Court mantua

Unknown

Kensington Palace

circa 1760-1765

A spectacular 18th-century dress worn at the court of George III in the early days of his reign. The mantua was the signature style of dress for ladies attending court. It is made from white silk satin brocaded with a pattern of stripes and scrolling garlands of exotic flowers in silver thread and trimmed with silver lace. The silk is probably French but the cut of the mantua is English. It may have been worn by Mary, Marchioness of Rockingham, whose husband Charles 2nd Marquis of Rockingham was Deputy Earl Marshal at the time of the coronation of George III in 1761. Also known as the Fitzwilliam Mantua.

• Medium: silk satin brocaded in silver thread with silver lace trim
• Dimensions: hem width: 188cm
• Art Fund Grant: £80275 ( Total: £80,275; Export stopped)
• ArtFunded in: 2006
• Vendor: Bonhams

Provenance

Probably Mary, 2nd Marchioness of Rockingham; by descent to the estate of the Hon. Olive Fitzwilliam (died 1966); Bonham's, 2006.

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