Description: The rich blue silk of this gown was woven around 1740 with a design of peonies, carnations and tulips. The robe was later re-modelled in the late 1700s (see image 55616). High quality fabric such as this was expensive, more than 10 shillings a yard (a dress could take between 12 and 16 yards of fabric): it made sense therefore to ‘make over’ the original dress once fashions changed.