Dress
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Abigail Weaver
(American, 1825 - 1906)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1860
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk and cotton, with silk-covered wooden buttons, silk fringe, metal hooks and eyes
DimensionsBodice (center back length x width across shoulders): 26 x 17in. (66 x 43.2cm)
Skirt (length): 48in. (121.9cm)
Hem (circumference): 132in. (335.3cm)
Skirt (length): 48in. (121.9cm)
Hem (circumference): 132in. (335.3cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Maureen Mozzer
DescriptionTwo-piece woman's day dress of gray silk, consisting of a bodice (.a) and a skirt (.b). The bodice has a deeply pointed waistline in front and double tails in back. It is fitted in the front with two 7 1/2-inch darts. Golden brown silk fringe trims the tails and the openings of the bell sleeves. Additionally, the fringe is stitched around the armscye seams from the front and continuing to the lower center back, forming a deep V. Above the fringe are stitched bias strips of light gray satin. This satin trimming also finishes the front waist edge. The bodice closes at center front with hooks and eyes. Eleven non-functioning buttons of gray silk crocheted over dome-shaped wooden molds decorate the proper left edge of the opening. The neckline is high and round and the shoulderline is dropped. The neckline, armscye seams, and waist edge are finished with piping. The bell sleeves are ten inches wide, and are open for 8 1/2 inches from the wrist edge up the back of the arm. The opening of the sleeve is lined with ecru silk, and finished on the inside with box-pleated ecru silk ribbon. The bodice is lined with brown glazed cotton. The two darts closest to the center opening are boned, as is the right front opening edge. (Boning is missing from left dart.)
The skirt is flat in front, knife pleated over the hips, and cartridge-pleated in the back. It is fully lined with brown plain-woven cotton; the waistband is also made of the brown cotton. The bottom edge is finished with brown twill-woven wool tape. There is a small in-seam watch pocket on the left side.
The skirt is flat in front, knife pleated over the hips, and cartridge-pleated in the back. It is fully lined with brown plain-woven cotton; the waistband is also made of the brown cotton. The bottom edge is finished with brown twill-woven wool tape. There is a small in-seam watch pocket on the left side.
Object number1987.44.1a,b
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