Girl’s Mourning Dress, 1911

Girl’s Mourning Dress, 1911 1993/11

Symbolism This child’s dress was worn as part of burial rituals in the early 20th century. All living things will die but only humans seek to answer the question of what happens next. Anthropologists believe the development of burial rituals in humans reflect attempts to answer this question and are the first traceable evidence of our ability to think symbolically and tell stories. Gender A girl’s mourning dress design was often based on her mother’s. Death in the Victorian era had different impacts depending on your gender. Women mourned by dressing completely in black for long periods and observing strict restrictions on their behaviour. Men simply added a black arm band to their normal outfits. Consumerism Victorian era department stores had entire sections dedicated to mourning attire for the whole family, including children’s dresses like this example from 1911. Those who had lost a loved one could purchase a wide range of consumer goods to aid their mourning process from black edged paper to mourning jewellery. Chemicals The black of this 1911 mourning dress was probably made using benzene and copper chloride. Synthetic dyes were first produced in the 1850s. The new dyes revolutionised fashion but were dangerous. Exposure to these chemicals could irritate the skin of the wearer or kill those involved in the dye’s production.