This dress originally belonged to the woodcut artist and suffragette Clemence Hausman (1861-1955). The dress is of the Aesthetic style, in green velvet (now faded) with gathered bodice, bell shaped sleeves and neckline and sleeves embroidered in scarab design in silk thread. Hausman was sister of the painter, illustrator and author Laurence Hausman and together they co-founded the Suffrage Atelier, producing propoganda for the women’s suffrage movement. The dress was given by Clemence Hausman to the amateur dramatic society the Street Players, which was founded by Laurence Hausman. The dress was later purchased by the Gallery from the The Street Players in 1954.
The dress is made of green-grey velvet with gathered bodice caught in at waist with green and gold cord with 3 tassels at either end; bell-shaped sleeves; neckline and sleeves embroidered in art nouveau style motifs in satin stitch in violet, blue and green silks. Deep oval neckline in-filled with white silk chiffon; undersleeves, gathered at the wrist, also of similar white chiffon. The bodice is lined with green silk fabric. There are 7 metal stays. The central back opening is fastened with metallic hooks and eyes.
