Womens Dresses From the Victorian Era and After

 

Ladies Dress styles 

Women's dresses from the Victorian era and beyond are something I find myself looking at a lot. No, I  am not a fashion groupie but, I will admit it, I love period dramas where the characters are all fitted in the full garb. also there is something about the extravagance and value that fabric had, and the story it could tell which  adds to my interest in the topic.

So a bit of history----1870 ~ 1889....is characterized by a gradual return to a narrow silhouette after the full-skirted fashions of the 1850s and 1860s. Fashionable waists were low and tiny below a full, low bust supported by a corset and was characterized by the return of the bustle. just a few random facts.

   

 so my work, the vessels I am currently making are unintentionally taking on the characteristics of the women's dresses from this time period. while sitting at the wheel i realized that they were looking a lot like bodies. In general all of my work have a body like essence which I am subtly accentuating in places on the forms to bring out those characteristics. I don't intend to directly reference the human form, but it keeps spinning its way into my work.

  I find that prints from fabric are holding on the human form the same way that I intend to place patterning on my pots. It Is like the women's dresses are test tiles showing me what works and what might not. Typically they wear satins, to silks, to cottons, to lace... ohh not the time now to discuss my love of lace..... ....These all take on the look of glazes and textures I strive for on my pots.


Enjoy this video clip about lace from Cranford..... HHHHHilariously witty.... a bit out of context but just know these women are hysterical throughout the series. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRyK8j8Dss0&feature=player_detailpage#t=97s

Images of my work to come soon! New glaze stuff just came out recently so more to come!