Baptism dress decorated with silk lace

A hooded baby outfit became commonly used as a robe-like baptism gown in the 18th century. Among ordinary people, the so-called christening bag was used well into the 19th century. A long white baptism dress was generally adopted by the gentry with the rise of neoclassical fashion in the 19th century, and then adopted more widely only at the turn of the 20th century. The straight, diamond-patterned piqué dress belonged to Gerda Åberg, born in Porvoo in 1867. The interior of the fabric is fluffy like flannel. The only decoration used is a wide band of silk lace.

H50004:1. Photo: Timo Ahola, 2020.