Ghost
Evening dress of silk brocade, ca 1841-46, Sudley House See some bigger images here.

Evening dress of silk brocade, ca 1841-46, Sudley House

See some bigger images here.

(Source: liverpoolmuseums.org.uk)

Day dress of silk brocade, ca 1841-46, Sudley House See some bigger images here.

Day dress of silk brocade, ca 1841-46, Sudley House

See some bigger images here.

(Source: liverpoolmuseums.org.uk)

Throwing Off Her Weeds by Richard Redgrave, 1846 UK, the Victoria & Albert Museum A young widow is impatient to discard her black mourning clothes (known as widow’s weeds) because she has plans to marry again. The seamstress is showing her a lilac-coloured dress, a colour considered appropriate for a woman in the last phase of mourning. At this time, the mourning period for a husband was expected to be at least two years. Originally the picture included a figure of a soldier, the widow’s new suitor, entering through the doorway. Critics thought this was vulgar, and Redgrave painted the figure out, but he kept a number of other visual clues to suggest that the woman is soon to be married again: there is a bridal bonnet in the hat-box in the foreground, and a sprig of orange blossom (a flower which was usually worn or carried at weddings) on the dressing table.

Throwing Off Her Weeds by Richard Redgrave, 1846 UK, the Victoria & Albert Museum

A young widow is impatient to discard her black mourning clothes (known as widow’s weeds) because she has plans to marry again. The seamstress is showing her a lilac-coloured dress, a colour considered appropriate for a woman in the last phase of mourning. At this time, the mourning period for a husband was expected to be at least two years.

Originally the picture included a figure of a soldier, the widow’s new suitor, entering through the doorway. Critics thought this was vulgar, and Redgrave painted the figure out, but he kept a number of other visual clues to suggest that the woman is soon to be married again: there is a bridal bonnet in the hat-box in the foreground, and a sprig of orange blossom (a flower which was usually worn or carried at weddings) on the dressing table.

(Source: collections.vam.ac.uk)

Berlin wool and beadwork shoes, ca 1845 Comes with a tartan reticule from the same era. Click to go to the absentee bidding page.  This Kerry Taylor auction will take place October 16th at 10:30 AM GMT (5:30 AM EST).  You will need to register to bid ahead of time.

Berlin wool and beadwork shoes, ca 1845

Comes with a tartan reticule from the same era.

Click to go to the absentee bidding page.  This Kerry Taylor auction will take place October 16th at 10:30 AM GMT (5:30 AM EST).  You will need to register to bid ahead of time.

Satin wedding dress, ca 1845 Click to go to the absentee bidding page.  This Kerry Taylor auction will end October 16th at 10:30 AM GMT (5:30 AM EST).  You will need to register to bid ahead of time.

Satin wedding dress, ca 1845

Click to go to the absentee bidding page.  This Kerry Taylor auction will end October 16th at 10:30 AM GMT (5:30 AM EST).  You will need to register to bid ahead of time.

Fashions for men and women, Jan 1846 France, Les Modes Parisiennes

Fashions for men and women, Jan 1846 France, Les Modes Parisiennes

Fancy dress, Jan 1846 US (Philadelphia), Ladies’ National Magazine

Fancy dress, Jan 1846 US (Philadelphia), Ladies’ National Magazine

Court dress, ca 1845 Portugal, LACMA

Court dress, ca 1845 Portugal, LACMA

Day dress, ca 1845

Day dress, ca 1845

Dress, 1845-49 US or Europe, the Met Museum

Dress, 1845-49 US or Europe, the Met Museum

Day dress, ca 1845 England, KCI

Day dress, ca 1845 England, KCI

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