Dress
Original OwnerPossibly originally owned by
Mary Jane Buel
(American, 1827 - 1884)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1855-1860
MediumHand-stitched silk and cotton, with unidentified boning (probably baleen), silk fringe, and buttons of glass and metal (probably brass).
DimensionsBodice (length x width across shoulders): 24 x 18in. (61 x 45.7cm)
Skirt (hem circumference): 155in. (393.7cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Seth P. Holcombe and Mrs. Gilbert A. Wicke
Object number1981.26.13a,b
DescriptionWoman's two-piece day dress, consisting of a jacket bodice (.a) and skirt (.b), made of silk with warp-printed leopard-like black spots and grain pattern over horizontal stripes of green, black, white, red, and purple. The jacket bodice has bell sleeves and sleeve caps trimmed with green and white silk fringe headed by braid woven with a pink floral pattern on white. The peplum extension below the waist flares over the hips and ends in a point at center front and center back. This edge is also trimmed with fringe. There is a watch pocket set into the waist seam on the proper left side. The bodice has a high, round neckline, and closes at center front with ten (one is missing) small green glass faceted glass buttons set in a gold-tone metal bezel. The neckline and armscye seams are finished with self-covered piping. The lining is plain-woven glazed cotton. There is a separate lining extension from the side seams, made of white twill-woven cotton, which laces at center front. The bodice is fitted with two six-inch darts on either side of the front opening. These darts, the side seams, the bodice center back, and the lacing edges of the lining extension are all boned.
The skirt is knife-pleated into the waistband, which is white twill-woven cotton. It closes with brass hooks and eyes (and there are thread eyes stitched to the edge, about one inch from the brass eyes). The skirt is fully lined with white glazed cotton. The bottom edge is finished with light brown twill-woven wool tape. There is an inseam pocket on the proper right side.
The skirt is knife-pleated into the waistband, which is white twill-woven cotton. It closes with brass hooks and eyes (and there are thread eyes stitched to the edge, about one inch from the brass eyes). The skirt is fully lined with white glazed cotton. The bottom edge is finished with light brown twill-woven wool tape. There is an inseam pocket on the proper right side.
Status
Not on view
