Dress
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1855-1860
MediumHand-stitched silk and cotton, with silk lace and velvet ribbon, brass hooks and eyes, silk-covered wooden buttons, and unidentified boning (probably baleen)
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (center front length x width across shoulders): 60 1/2 x 20in. (153.7 x 50.8cm)
Hem (circumference): 179in. (454.7cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1986.225.0
DescriptionWoman's day dress of dark turquoise green silk with small, woven dots. The shoulderline is dropped and the neckline is high and round. The bell sleeves are trimmed at the openings with black bobbin-type lace and a double row of narrow black velvet ribbon. This same configuration of trimming appears on the double-layered sleeve caps at the top of the arm. The bodice opens at center front with hooks and eyes; the proper left edge is ornamented with non-functioning buttons, which are round, and covered with the turquoise silk and then black silk crochet. The bodice is trimmed from the shoulderline to the center front with a diagonal line of the velvet ribbon; under this is a rounded flap which is trimmed like the sleeves. Fit is achieved with three 6 1/2-inch darts on either side of the center front opening. The neck edge and waistline edge are finished with self-covered piping. The bodice is lined with brown cotton sateen (the twill side is turned to the inside on the back panel). The darts and side seams are boned. The sleeves are lined with white silk in the bell area, and with white glazed cotton in the upper arm.
The skirt is knife-pleated into a waistband, which is then stitched to the bodice waist edge. A small watchpocket, covered with black crochet work appears to the left of the skirt opening, which is to the left of the center front. There is an in-seam pocket on the right side of the skirt. The skirt is fully lined with glazed beige cotton, with an extra seven-inch-wide layer of glazed brown cotton lining the bottom edge. A loop of lining fabric is stitched to the center back of the skirt on the inside. This is for storage, as the practice at the time was to turn the dress inside-out, with the bodice tucked inside the skirt; it was then hung up by the loop.
NotesHistorical Note: A round daguerreotype case, such as would house clock works, was found in the pocket of this dress. The inside cover reads "EMELINE WEBSTER, HARTFORD".The skirt is knife-pleated into a waistband, which is then stitched to the bodice waist edge. A small watchpocket, covered with black crochet work appears to the left of the skirt opening, which is to the left of the center front. There is an in-seam pocket on the right side of the skirt. The skirt is fully lined with glazed beige cotton, with an extra seven-inch-wide layer of glazed brown cotton lining the bottom edge. A loop of lining fabric is stitched to the center back of the skirt on the inside. This is for storage, as the practice at the time was to turn the dress inside-out, with the bodice tucked inside the skirt; it was then hung up by the loop.
Status
Not on view
