Petticoat
Unknown Artist
1870–90
Medium
cotton
Classification
Petticoat
Culture
American or European
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Miss Irene Lewisohn, 1937
Accession Number
C.I.37.46.107
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant underbelly of 19th-century fashion with charming cotton petticoat, between 1870 and 1890 by an unknown artist. Hailing from either American or European culture, this undergarment was a staple in women's wardrobes during the Victorian era's later years, when voluminous skirts demanded structured support beneath. Petticoats like this one provided the essential fullness and shape, transforming simple dresses into sweeping silhouettes that embodied the period's ideals of femininity and modesty. Made entirely of cotton—a lightweight, breathable fabric ideal for daily wear—thi...