Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Ellen Wilson
(American)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1868-1870
MediumMachine-stitched wool and silk faille, cotton, and silk velvet, with silk-covered wooden buttons, and unidentified boning (probably baleen)
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (back length x width across shoulders): 64 x 16in. (162.6 x 40.6cm)
Other (center front length): 55in. (139.7cm)
Hem (circumference): 115in. (292.1cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of the Rockville Public Library
Object number1952.72.2
DescriptionWoman's day dress (.a) of kelly green wool, woven with a warp-faced rib (like a plain harateen). The dress has a high, round neck and dropped shoulder. The coat sleeves are decorated at the wrist with a ruched band of self-fabric, trimmed with pale green velvet so that the top edge is scalloped and the lower edge, which is wider, is smooth. The bodice closes at center front with nine dome-shaped buttons covered with green silk thread worked in a net pattern. The bodice is fitted with two 5 1/2-inch-long darts on either side of the opening; the darts are boned. The neckline, armscye seams, and waistline edge are piped. The bodice is lined with brown twill-woven cotton.
The skirt is flat in front, pleated around the waist, and cartridge-pleated in back. It shows signs of having been altered: there is an old fold line across the top, and the back has been pieced to make it longer, so it would fit the new hoops style, which was straight in front and sloped in back. The skirt is inexpertly stitched to the waistband. The bottom of the skirt is flounced with 7 1/2 inches of the green harateen, topped with a band of green velvet. The bottom edge is bound with the harateen set on the bias in the opposite direction of the flounce. The skirt under the flounce is finished with self-covered piping. It is lined with tan glazed cotton.
The dress is accompanied by a sash (.b) or belt of green harateen, bound with green velvet and decorated by a self-fabric bow at the center back. The sash is lined with tan glazed cotton.
The skirt is flat in front, pleated around the waist, and cartridge-pleated in back. It shows signs of having been altered: there is an old fold line across the top, and the back has been pieced to make it longer, so it would fit the new hoops style, which was straight in front and sloped in back. The skirt is inexpertly stitched to the waistband. The bottom of the skirt is flounced with 7 1/2 inches of the green harateen, topped with a band of green velvet. The bottom edge is bound with the harateen set on the bias in the opposite direction of the flounce. The skirt under the flounce is finished with self-covered piping. It is lined with tan glazed cotton.
The dress is accompanied by a sash (.b) or belt of green harateen, bound with green velvet and decorated by a self-fabric bow at the center back. The sash is lined with tan glazed cotton.
Status
Not on view
5 June 1862
