British Galleries:
This mantua and petticoat represent the grandest style of court dress. The skirt made it necessary for the wearer to go sideways through doors, but had the advantage of displaying a large area of lavish decoration. Botanically accurate flowers were a feature of Rococo embroidery, patterned silks and printed textiles of the 1740s and 1750s in England. [27/03/2003]