Conserving a Rare 360-Year-Old Dress | Behind the Scenes at Hampton Court Palace

This rare historic dress known as the Silver Tissue Dress is 360 years old. Explore behind the scenes at the Textile Conservation Studio, and discover how this remarkable dress from the reign of Charles II is carefully prepared for display, celebrating the craftsmanship and beauty of a dress that has survived since The Stuarts were on the throne.

00:00 Welcome to the Textile Conservation Studio at Hampton Court
00:23 The Silver Tissue Dress
00:39 The history of the dress
01:30 Why the dress is so rare
01:55 How to conserve a dress like this
02:49 How is the dress made?
03:27 Finer details of the dress
04:30 Celebrating craftsmanship and design
 

Special thanks to the Fashion Museum Bath for the loan of this dress.

[vbrown]

It would be great if they could do a computer image of the gown to shown how it would have looked originally, with the shine and glimmer the silver would have had without the dullness of time. I'm sure it was spectacular.

[naturalcambion]

I just imagine that the original wearer was so enamored with the dress and what it stood for and the memories it represented. That she hid the dress away, safe and secure. Only to be forgotten after her mortal release for hundreds of years. Such precious whispers of the past.

[DJL]

These episodes should be 45 minutes longer.

[jmash]

Astonishing that this exists after being worn 360 years ago! Hard to wrap my head around that. Much respect to the conservators who work so hard to repair and maintain these amazing garments. I cannot imagine how stressful it could be working on something like this. Just amazing!

[saradecapua]

I can't imagine the stress and excitement of working on such a delicate, beautiful dress.

[twimama]

The entire dress....stunning but that lace. The craftsmanship and skills leave me speechless. Thank you so much for sharing this dress with us. :)

[hrriphic]

What a jaw dropping garment. I can’t believe how beautiful it still is, after almost 400 years. Just Imagining it on the original wearer, silver glinting under candle light, the rustling of the silk as she moved…it’s so incredibly enchanting

[DipityS]

It's something close to a miracle to find such a fine gown from so long back - not altered or turned into another item - but preserved as it was first created. What an amazing find - I wonder how that happened - what series of events let it come down to us intact?

[-Reagan]

Wow I really hope Kim Kardashian doesn’t see this

[BradKandyCroftFamily]

It would be lovely to see what the fabric looked like hundreds of years ago. I can only imagine how it shined in the light. Age has certainly darkened it because of the nature of the metal thread.

[nancymcgee]

Hats off to you Ann-Marie for being able to work on that dress without shaking! I'd have been afraid to even breathe on it! Sure wish it could talk....what a story it could tell! Thank you!

[artchic]

I can only imagine how elegant it looked back when it was in its heyday, and how the Lady who wore it must have been so stunning when she wore it.

Just imagine the silver thread glistening in the light of the candles and oil lamps as they flickered! She must have looked like she was glittering like a star! I imagine she felt some sentimental attachment to the dress, so she left it as is, tucked away in a trunk or armoire. Maybe as she aged and wanted to reminisce, she’d take it out to lovingly fondle the fabric.

Thankfully, whatever the reason it remained as it was, it can now be preserved and serve as a sort of window into the past. A veritable and tangible link to the aristocracy of the 1600’s and the fashions therein.

[Sss]

When I go to museums I go to appreciate and marvel at the craftswomen and men who put so much of their heart and talent into these pieces.

[kateg]

I would have loved it if an illustration had been included to show how the dress would have looked when it was originally worn. It's hard to get a picture in your mind's eye of how striking the silver and white lace would have been. It's a fantastic video though.

[sheilatagg]

What a glorious dress that would have been to wear. It's a shame there isn't a painting of it being worn.

[skirtedgalleons]

I would have liked even more time and exploration of the dress in the video. So interesting!

[tondriasanders]

It would be very lovely to see the dress once it’s ready for display. I hope you post another video.

[simplyme]

I feel an incredible admiration and respect for conservators of art of all kinds 😯👏

[christyb]

And it has pockets!!! :-) wonderful conservation work

[M.M.D.]

This is a stunning dress. The work you do is so important. I would love to see an artist's rendering of what the lady would have looked like wearing this dress. How tall was she and what size?