Tea gown

Unknown

ca. 1891 · wool · Costume Institute

This tea gown, composed of a cut-up wool shawl woven in a paisley pattern, imitates a black-centered Indian Kashmir shawl. In fact, the material was probably woven in France during the 1860s or 1870s. On the upper right corner of the bodice is embroidered "Cachemire" in white thread. Such a tea gown, intended for gender-segregated leisure, is the feminine analogue to the man's dressing gown or smoking jacket.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1891

Medium

wool

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Purchase, Irene Lewisohn and Alice L. Crowley Bequests, 1985