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Dress of Margaret, Queen of Denmark
Possibly the burial gown of Queen Margaret of Denmark, who died in
1412. There is also a theory that this dress was made to be her
wedding gown. If that is true, it's very remarkable that she was able
to fit into it upon her death, since she was 10 years old when married
in 1363. The proportions of the garment do indicate that it was
made for a girl, not a woman. On the other hand, the material was
carbon-date to 1403-1439, much later than her wedding date.
The fabric was really splendid, a mixture of gold and silk.
Understandably, it was used to the last thread. The pattern
nonetheless is very simple, consisting of 4 pattern-pieces, but every
pattern-piece was sewn together from many smaller pieces of fabric, to
make a more economic use of it. Three pattern-pieces were sewn
togteher very precisely, but not the fourth one. Sleeves were almost
not preserved, but their remains indicate that the were probably long,
up to the wrists, and narrow all the way.
From shoulder to the waist-line the garment was lined with heavy
linen. Althought the scientific reconstruction is very beautiful, the
original fabric was much softer and more flowing.
Based on: A History
of Costume; Carl Köhler; translated by Alexander K.. Dallas M.A.;
Philadelphia; 1928; David McKay Company |
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