Fashion Extremes

This style of sleeve, popular during the 1820s and aptly known as ‘imbecile’, must surely rank amongst the historical monstrosities of fashion. The weight of the fabric must have weighed heavily on a young girl’s shoulders and one wonders would might have happened if she were caught by a sudden gust of wind!

Sleeves aside, it is this young lady’s elegant hair-do trimmed with flowers and ribbon that catches the eye together with the large brooch on her corsage and her long gold guard chain.

The silhouette is cut and gilded. It can be attributed to the Hubard Gallery established in 1822 by a businessman seeking to exploit the precocious talents of the child William James Hubard. To keep up with demand as the Gallery went on tour, several artists with differing styles and abilities were employed.

The silhouette is in very good condition and is housed in what appears to be the original maple veneer frame with a gilt slip. The slip has some over-gilding but otherwise the frame is also in fine condition.