1930s sheer screen-printed dot mousseline nightgown

an antique sheer nightgown in powder-blue mousseline, screen-printed all over with tiny blue and white dots and trimmed in fine floral lace. the all-over screen-printed dotting on a fine, fluid mousseline points to the early era of printed manufactured sheers, hand-finished with lace insertion and ruffles for the boudoir. it has a deep v neckline framed by a ruffled, lace-edged bib, long sheer bishop sleeves gathered into lace cuffs, an empire waist with a slender self-tie, and a long skirt that floats to the floor. so sheer it doubles beautifully as an overdress layered over a slip or column, unbranded and entirely of its era.

please note: a few very small pulls to the sheer fabric and a couple of tiny, barely noticeable repairs to the lace, all consistent with a piece over a century old.

details

• era: 1930s
• designer: unbranded
• origin: unknown
• design: sheer pull-on nightgown with a deep v neckline, ruffled lace-edged bib front, long sheer bishop sleeves gathered to lace cuffs, empire waist with a slender self-tie, and a full floor-length skirt; sheer enough to layer as an overdress. powder-blue ground with all-over screen-printed blue and white dots and ivory floral lace trim and insertion. materials and percentages - no content tag; a fine, fluid mousseline that feels synthetic and reads closest to an early manufactured artificial silk, neither cotton nor modern silk. screen-printed.
• condition: very good: structurally sound and wearable for its age; a few very small pulls to the sheer fabric and a couple of tiny, barely noticeable repairs to the lace, consistent with an antique sheer.
• size & fit: no size tag. best modern fit estimate is women's small to medium, approximately us 4 to 8; the empire waist and self-tie give an easy, forgiving fit, and the gown is sheer.
• flat measurements: bust 19 in flat, length 54 in, sleeve 22 in. the empire waist has a slender self-tie.