Physical description

Clothing. Woman's black silk brocade bodice. High round neckline with full length front opening fastened with 13 metal hooks and eyes. Bodice fully lined with black cotton fabric and shaped in at waistline. Seven casings for boning - two on each side of front, one on each side seam and one at centre back (18cm X 1.3 cm). Casings reinforced with bright yellow cotton stitching. Cotton tape casing at hemline at waist. Long straight set in sleeves extending to a rounded shape over the back of the hand.Cross over front outer layer fastened with three hooks and eyes at the top and one at the waist. Panels of black lace run from shoulders to waist on either side of a centre insert panel (12 cm X 15cm) with five horizontal strips of velvet ribbon. Below the insert are three 7-9cm wide black lace ruffles with khaki green embroidery (Jabot effect). The back has a deep V shaped insert of vertical pin tucks and black lace, from across the shoulders to centre back. Pin tucks also on either side of front neckline.