Unique A woman's bodice and petticoat, 1780s, French; Blue linen weft, pale blue silk warp floral figured poplin, French 1770s; altered 1870-1910 A woman's bodice and petticoat of poplin with a blue linen weft and pale blue silk warp, figured in a pattern of serpentine trails of flowers and lace. The bodice is open at the front, with sleeves ending just below the elbow. The bodice meets at centre front, with 2 shaped tabs on either side of the opening. The back is cut in 4 shaped pieces, tapering to a point at centre back below the waist. The sleeves are cut in 4 pieces and lined with striped blue and white linen. The bodice fronts ant back pieces are lined with blue linen and stitched together. Two small loops of white linen tape are stitcihed either side of the bodice opening. The petticoat is made of 8 widths of poplin, with a box pleat at centre front and flat pleating at the sides and back. It fastens at either side with pocket openings in the seams. The hem is faced with a band of dark blue glazed linen. The ensemble may have been made as a gown in the 1770s. In the 1780s, the bodice and skirt of the gown were separated and reconfigured. The elbow-length sleeves were let out and extended to make them longer. The bodice was shortened, and a drawstring added to the binding of the back neckline. The front opening of the gown skirt was stitched up to make the petticoat. In the late 19th century the gown was altered for fancy dress. Boning was added to the side and centre back seams, and hooks & eyes to the bodice front opening. The binding of the petticoat waist was removed and a waistband of the silk added to the front, but not the back.