This three-quarter length dress features a vibrant array of colors intricately hand-embroidered in a floral motif using herringbone stitching, gold sequins, and smocking. While various regions have their unique styles of embroidery, this dress likely reflects the Kalocsa Hungarian folkloric design known for its vivid floral patterns associated with springtime. Typically, younger women wore brightly decorated dresses, while older women opt for darker hues. With over twenty folkloric regions showcasing similar yet subtly different designs, the dress may be associated with another region and have subtly different meanings.
It is worth noting the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, also referred to as the Hungarian Revolution, which led to around 200,000 Hungarians seeking refuge, with about 21,000 finding shelter in Britain. Considering this historical context, it is plausible that this dress was brought along as part of this mass movement, although this cannot be guaranteed.
This object was audited and researched as part of the NLHF Data Hunters and Story Gatherers project.
