Gift of Mrs. Fred J. Agate, through the Manuscripts Committee of the Connecticut Society of the ...

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Wedding Dress

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Catherine Wadsworth (American, 1774 - 1841)

Date1798

MediumHand-stitched and hand-embroidered cotton muslin and linen tape

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (front shoulder to hem length x width across shoulders): 57 1/2 x 11 1/8in. (146.1 x 28.3cm) Other (center back length, including train): 61 1/2in. (156.2cm)

ClassificationsCostume

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Fred J. Agate, through the Manuscripts Committee of the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America

Object number1958.2.1

DescriptionSheer white cotton muslin, embroidered with an undulating leafy vine design, alternating with stripes worked with different openwork patterns. A simple, four-petaled flower head design is scattered between stripes. The dress has a low, rounded neckline controlled by a drawstring. The bosom is covered by two flaps of linen, which overlap and pin underneath the muslin. The short sleeves, which end in a cuff created from a self-fabric openwork stripe, are set smoothly into the armscye in front and gathered in back. The armscyes are deep, so that the measurement across the center back is only six inches. The front of the dress hangs straight and full from the neckline; the fullness would have been controlled with a ribbon belt, which is now missing. The back of the dress, which is lined with plain-woven linen, has four seams that fan slightly outward from the center back waistline to the center of the armscyes and the neckline. (These seams are topstitched with a tiny backstitch that resembles machine sewing.) The waistline is high, mesuring 3 1/2 inches at the side seam under the armhole. The back of the skirt is closely gathered for about 7 1/2 inches across the center back; to either side of the gathering, there are two pleats for additional fullness. The back of the skirt ends in a train, approximately twenty inches longer than the front hemlength.

NotesHistorical Note: Catherine Wadsworth (1774-1841) was the daughter of Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth (1743-1804.)

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