Lady’s Polonaise gown, c. 1780. Hand-painted and hand-sewn reproduction of extant ensemble (original at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1976.146a,b); silk calash, replica of extant item in the collection of Pottsgrove Manor, Pottstown PA. Exotic goods from the East were always highly desirable in fashionable European society, whether they were home furnishings of rare woods, ladies’ ivory fans, or textiles for expensive garments.

Made as an example of 18th century haute couture for “To the Manor Worn” 2014 exhibit at Pottsgrove Manor. The gown and petticoat ensemble took over 400 hours to hand-paint over 14 yards of white silk.