Petticoat

Unknown

1740–60 · silk, cotton · Costume Institute

Quilted petticoats were a part of informal dress throughout the 18th century. Initially, this type of petticoat served for warmth and to give shape to the lower half of the body in a way which would disguise the wearer's legs. As the skirts began to open in the front in the early 18th century women chose more decorative quilted petticoats to add another layer of detail. This particular petticoat indicates the status of the owner through its extremely refined overall embroidery, which would have been extremely labor intensive and costly.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1740–60

Medium

silk, cotton

Culture

Swedish

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Museum Expedition 1924, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 1924