This #textiletuesday we take a (very) close look at an 18th century painted silk. Painted silk, while beautiful, is a rather impractical dress fabric as it could not be laundered without loss of color. Painted silk gowns like this one from 1770 became a sign of wealth as one could only wear it if they knew they wouldn't get dirty. This style also represents the growing popularity of Eastern cultures in the 18th century. Hand-painted silk fabrics and fans were made in China and brought to the United States through trade. Unfortunately, this delicate fabric is also prone to damage and loss of color due to the inherent vices of the painted dyes. 1958.3.8 Gift of John McHenry through Miss Elizabeth Merritt #textile #vintage #histoicalclothing #vintageclothing #paintedsilk #painted #silk #18thcentury #18thcenturyfashion #18thcenturydress #historicaldress #1770s #mdhs #conservation