A woman's petticoat, 1780s, British; ivory silk taffeta with silver strip weft, brocaded with floral sprigs Woman’s petticoat of ivory silk taffeta, striped with a weft of silver strip and brocaded with floral sprigs in white, black, green and shades of pink. It is made of 5 panels of silk, with two partial widths at the back. The panel at the centre front is edged with 1-¼ inch (3 cm) wide ribbon of silver thread, on the sides and hem. There is a wide box pleat at centre front, with side pleats and pleats on either side of the opening at centre back, bound with 1-inch (2.5 cm) wide linen tape. There are no pocket openings. The hem is faced with a 3-inch (7.5 cm) strip of coarse, unbleached linen.