Description
An original Victorian fashion plate taken from The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine, a highly influential British periodical published between 1852 and 1879 by Samuel Orchart Beeton.
From around 1860, the magazine became renowned for its hand-coloured fashion plates, many of which were adapted from leading Parisian sources and designed to showcase the latest European styles to a growing middle-class readership.
This particular print is titled “The Fashions – expressly designed & prepared for The Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine” and depicts two elegantly dressed women alongside a child, illustrating the refined domestic and social ideals of the mid-Victorian era.
The clothing reflects the transitional 1860s silhouette, where full crinolines began to shift towards a more structured back volume (early bustle influence), combined with detailed trimming, layered skirts, and decorative bodices.
Fashion plates like this served both as aspirational imagery and practical guidance, allowing women to replicate fashionable dress at home using patterns often included in the publication.
The plate itself is finely engraved and delicately hand-coloured, typical of the period, and has been sympathetically framed in a simple gilt frame which complements the soft tones of the print while allowing the artwork to remain the focal point.
A wonderful piece of authentic Victorian visual culture—ideal for collectors of fashion history, antique prints, or anyone looking to add period elegance and narrative interest to an interior.
Dimensions (approx.)
• Frame: 40–50 cm height
• Width: 30–40 cm
• Depth: 2–3 cm
• Visible print area: approx. 20–30 cm
Condition
• Good antique condition
• Light age toning and minor spotting to paper
• Some gentle fading to hand colouring
• Frame in good order with light wear
• Ready to hang
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