Very little is known about Ann Harley and no portrait has been found, so by recreating the dress it will be possible to give Ann a physical three-dimensional presence. As the reconstruction progresses it is hoped that other, more technical, questions may possibly be answered. We could discover who designed the fabric, where the exact origin of the fabric was, where the gold originated and other details of the technology behind the manufacture of the fabric. There may also be archival evidence relating to the purchase, how much it cost, who made it up.
As with most conservation projects more questions than answers are raised as the project unfolds. What is certain as the dress emerges and as the various pieces are put together, is that it is certainly ‘a dress fit for a king’.