Wedding Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Martha Webster
(American, 1820 - 1894)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1836-1840
MediumHand-stitched silk and cotton, with silk-covered cotton cord, boning, and metal hooks and eyes
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (center back length x width across shoulders): 54 1/2 x 20in. (138.4 x 50.8cm)
Hem (circumference): 106in. (269.2cm)
Other (center front length): 51in. (129.5cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Sidney Locke
Object number1950.60.0
DescriptionEcru silk satin dress, with a wide neckline and pointed waist. The bodice is decorated by horizontal pleating across the bosom, from shoulder to shoulder. The pleating is stitched into the center front seam, which also has a double piping insertion. The banded-down sleeves are above-elbow length, and they are set with narrow pleats into the top of the armscye. These pleats are carefully laid down for 3 3/4 inches and held in place by two rows of piped self-fabric. The fullness of the sleeve is then released into a puff, which is further embellished with three rosettes of self-fabric. The sleeve treatment is finished with a narrow piped band. The dress closes at center back with hooks and eyes. A self-fabric rosette decorates the waist at the center back opening. The waistline, neckline, armscye, underarm seam, and curved side back seams are piped, in addition to what has already been described. The bodice and sleeves are lined in glazed, plain-woven, white cotton fabric. The center front seam, side seams, and left center back opening edge are boned.
The skirt is knife-pleated into the waistline---it is set straight across the center front point, on the inside of the bodice---from the front and around the sides. The center back of the skirt is cartridge-pleated for a width of about 4 1/2 inches. The hem is lined with plain-woven white cotton for a depth of about 8 1/2 inches.
NotesHistorical Note: Martha Webster (1820-1894) married Colonel Henry Lewis Miller as his second wife on 28 February 1838.The skirt is knife-pleated into the waistline---it is set straight across the center front point, on the inside of the bodice---from the front and around the sides. The center back of the skirt is cartridge-pleated for a width of about 4 1/2 inches. The hem is lined with plain-woven white cotton for a depth of about 8 1/2 inches.
Status
Not on view
