Emily's Vintage Visions: Back to the 18th Century

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Back to the 18th Century

Despite the craziness of down to the wire wedding plans and buying a house (we close today!) I managed to escape for a few hours for a little time travel to the 1770s. This past weekend was the Revolutionary War event at the Fort at No. 4. It's a wonderful site, and although it suffers many of the same woes of other historic sites, it has a lot of offer. I dusted off my interpreter skills and talked with some of the visitors inside one of the reconstructed homes. I spoke with a gentleman who was an antique dealer/collector and a lady who was just starting to make some 18th century clothing for herself. I brought a few items for display including my blue and white cross-barred gown. She was very excited to look at it and see how it was constructed and I was happy to share a few tips and resources with her.

Photo credit - Erin Jarrett

It was rather chilly in the morning and I was happy to be wearing my extra petticoat! I typically wear two unless it's supper hot but that day I wore three - my under petticoat of white linen with a printed cotton border, a quilted petticoat, and finally my blue and white striped linen petticoat. And of course my shift, stays, stockings, shoes, pocket, cap, mitts, gown and apron. Yes, that's a lot of layers!

I've posted about my purple and white cotton gown before but this is only the second time I've worn it. It's first outing was to Old Sturbridge Village last summer. I forgot my camera, along with a few other things that day, so my friend Erin took these photos with her phone. Everything I'm wearing in these photos, except for my cap, stockings and shoes, was all hand sewn by me.

I attempted something new with my hair but by the time we took the pictures it looked a little funky so please forgive me! These first couple of photos were taken in the bed chamber of the Parker House.

Photo credit - Erin Jarrett

I love the cotton bed hangings. Note the painted floor cloth too, these kinds of floor coverings were fairly common in the mid to late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Photo credit - Erin Jarrett

The robings on my gown came unpinned so it looks a little strange in this photo. Photo credit - Erin Jarrett

These next two my favorite photos of the whole group. :) I really like the play of sunlight and shadows from the window. Erin's husband is a professional photographer and I think his skills are rubbing off on her.

Photo credit - Erin Jarrett

We took a few pictures in the keeping room (kitchen) and office/study area. I look so studious, ha! My linen mitts were started in a Hive workshop back in 2012 (yikes, has it really been that long?!) and patterned off the black and yellow pair seen here. The points are backed with silk and they are embroidered with matching yellow silk thread.