Antique French Breton Costume Dress Bodice Black Velvet Cotton Indigo late 19th century traditional clothing Britanny

Late 19th century two-piece Breton costume. A rare and collectible piece.

The dress is a black cotton with silk velvet panels. The inner bodice lining is a indigo cotton. Fastens with metal hook and eyes at the front. Beautiful pleats at the back. It has velvet brush at the hem. The sleeves are a trumpet shape. Two open side slots at the hips. Inside pocket. This would have had an apron worn over the front.

The velvet overlay vest is an amazing shape which holds it structured form. Lined in indigo cotton. It has two boned sections on each side of the front panels. Large metal hook and eyes close the front. When it closes there is extra length of front panel and this can pinned close or you would need to add fastening. Shown here simply pinned into place.

Dress measurements taken when flat: 16” underarm to underarm, 14” across the waist, 16” shoulders, 52” long

Condition: very good. This has been laundered. There is one hole in the skirt as shown. There is sun fading on the skirt and a further couple of snags. The edge of the front panel on the velvet overlay bodice has a hole at the very edge. I think this perhaps had little metal hooks on to fasten at the front and this is where they have come away.

Feel free to ask any questions.

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