French Natural Form Transformation Gown, Late 1860s-Early 1870s (first bustle era dress). Comprising one skirt, one day bodice and one evening bodice with waist stay, each stitched with the dressmaker's label "MME MARGUERITE/ ROBES/ 8. RUE DE MIROMENIL.8," the main fabric silk taffeta, hand beading, machine lace, both machine and hand stitching throughout.

Provenance: Handwritten note inscribed "Lovely green silk old fashioned dress belonging to my grandmother Grant circa about 1857 we think. It has two tops, low neck and high neck called "low body" and "high body" in the olden days. E.G.P. often wore this dress at Fancy Dress Balls."