My friend Rosie is researching the eighteenth century mantua that I have raved about for ages in this blog and which you won’t see for a while yet. Patience, our dear readers, patience.

Rosie is a meticulous researcher, and I have learnt so much from working with her and being around her. Her understanding and insights into the dress, eighteenth century embroidery and cloth weaving grows daily.

In Rosie’s hands, embroidery is an art. I have seen her 3-D embroidery for an art installation, and it was captivating. Leaves, embroidered in deep greens, unfurled off the bodice of a gown, curling and twisting, reaching out into space.

The image highlights some of the acetates Rosie has created of the mantua’s bodice. On these acetates is drawn every section of embroidery – where the colour shifts in hue, any damaged areas, indications of any change of embroiderer’s personal style (the number of people who worked on the dress is numerous going by the different styles of stitching).

With these acetates, Rosie slowly unpicks the history of this fine gown. Each stitch reveals something. The scans will help her reveal even more.

It really is enlightening to see the story unfold.

BDW