Casgliadau Arlein

Wedding dress consisting of a long bodice, skirt, neck ruffle, bustle and apron. The bodice and skirt are of very narrow striped bright blue silk. The apron is of coffee-coloured lace or drawn thread work. Worn by Mrs Eleanor Rees (née Phillips) on her wedding at St Elvan's Church, Aberdare, 1873.

Paisley patterned bustle pad made of cotton twill, with dense wadding (probably protein fibre/fleece). White cotton tapes to tie around waist. Consists of one small pad lying over a larger pad. The print consists of a Paisley pattern in white, yellow and black on a red ground. The larger pad has an upholstery tuck in the lower centre. Both pads feed into a separate, padded waist section which is constructed from four pieces of fabric. Both pads taper upwards towards the waist from their widest point, while the bottom edge is cut to a shallow V-shape. All hand stitched.