700.
Lady's dress, white silk; embroidered with flowers in coloured silks and gold and silver threads. Chinese, 18th century. 4 feet 2-1/2 inches.
Worked by order, very probably of some European dame, at Macao
or Canton, and exactly like No. 713 in design and execution. The
gold and silver, as in that, so in this specimen, are much tarnished.
701.
Lady's Dress, sky-blue satin; brocaded with white flowers, in small bunches. French, late 18th century. 4 feet 7 inches.
702.
Christening Cloak of green satin, lined with rose-coloured satin. Chinese. 5 feet 8-1/2 inches by 3 feet 6-3/4 inches.
A fine specimen, in every respect, of Chinese manufacture; the satin
itself is of the finest, softest kind; whether we look at the green or the
light rose-colour, nothing can surpass either of them in tone and clearness.
Few European dyers could give those tints.
In its present form this piece constituted an article to be found, and even yet seen, in very many families in Italy, Germany, and France, and was employed for christening occasions, when the nurse or midwife wore it over her shoulders, like a mantle, for muffling up the new-born babe, as she carried it, in state, to church for baptism. In this, as in other specimens of the Museum, there was a running string at top by which it might be drawn tight to the neck. Those who have lived abroad for even a short time must have observed how the nurse took care to let a little of this sort of scarf hang out of the carriage-window as she rode with baby to church. The christening cloth or cloak was, not long since, in use among ourselves.
