The caps the cuffs and bodice look more like a part of the fabric then embroidery. The bodice, if you enlarge the pictures appears to be pleated. http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/CARIANISeduction.JPG http://tinyurl.com/8q48hy
There are other paintings that have pleated or gathered fronts. ex: http://realmofvenus.renaissanceitaly.net/wardrobe/LadyParapet.jpg http://tinyurl.com/8gepo9 Perhaps brocade is not the correct term. What I am saying is that the fabric may have had a design woven on one of the selvage ends (similar to some sari fabrics), including the "yellow" band and the seamstress may have made use of it by cutting the fabric and sewing it so that the design would end up at the cuffs, bodice and caps. The band seen is to big for a simple running stitch. It appears to be a necklace and not a partlet. There may be a fob on the end hiding in the cleavage. De Original: <<<<The chemise looks like it is smocked to me. The tiny pleats and near same color embroidery would match. Is that a necklace underneath or a sheer partlet? As for the sleeves, it looks like embroidery to me. Much of what we think is brocade from period was actually embroidered, not woven. Especially if it had coat of arms on it. I see running stitches across the sleeves, caps, and wrist ruffles, but not the bodice itself. It looks to me like a contrast piece for the upper bodice and sleeve tops with a stitch to bring the sleeve tops and the caps together visually. -- Aspasia Moonwind _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
