Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Celia Stanley
(1846 - 1879)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1870-1875
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk and cotton, with silk lace, gessoed cotton, unidentified boning, brass-tipped silk cord, and silk-covered ferrous metal buttons
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width): 73 x 17 1/2in. (185.4 x 44.5cm)
Hem (hem circumference): 154in. (391.2cm)
Other (center front length): 50in. (127cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Elisha H. Cooper
Object number1957.49.19a-d
DescriptionWoman's dress of light green silk, consisting of four parts: dress (.a), evening bodice (.b), cape collar (.c), and overskirt (.d). The dress has a low, square neckline trimmed with a self-ruffle with fringed edges and cream-colored, machine-made, bobbin-type lace. The bodice closes at center front with green silk-covered, domed buttons. The sleeves end in an engageant-style ruffle, trimmed with fringed self-ruffle. The armscye seams are piped. The bodice is fitted with two six-inch darts on either side of the front opening; the darts are boned. Brown twill-woven cotton lines the bodice.
The skirt is flat in front and pleated in the back; it is sewn to a narrow waistband on the bottom of the bodice. It opens to the left of the center front. There is an in-seam pocket on the right side. The skirt ends in a train. It is lined with brown glazed cotton, and with 7 1/4 inches of gessoed white cotton around the bottom. The bottom edge is bound with green velvet.
The evening bodice (.b) is of matching silk, although the skirt would have to be removed from its current bodice if the evening bodice was to be used with the dress. The neckline is wide and square, and trimmed with cream-colored silk lace. The cap sleeves are created from gathered puffs of self-fabric. The waistline is short, measuring 6 3/4 inches at the side, under the armscye seam. The neckline, armscye seams, and waistline edge are piped. The bodice has a center back closure with a green silk-covered, brass-tipped lace. Four six-inch darts in the front of the bodice are boned. White twill-woven cotton lines the bodice.
The cape collar (.c) is scalloped across the front and over the shoulders, then descends to a point at center back. The edges are turned up and seamed at the center back, so that the point is like a pocket. The outer edges are trimmed with green silk fringe. The neckline is bound with the green silk.
The overskirt (.d) is of matching silk. It is made of three petal-shaped panels, trimmed with a fringed self-ruffle; it is gathered at the center back and has two narrow pleats on either side of the center front opening. The overskirt ties in front with two wide, velvet-bound self-fabric ties. The lining is stiff, plain-woven cotton.
The skirt is flat in front and pleated in the back; it is sewn to a narrow waistband on the bottom of the bodice. It opens to the left of the center front. There is an in-seam pocket on the right side. The skirt ends in a train. It is lined with brown glazed cotton, and with 7 1/4 inches of gessoed white cotton around the bottom. The bottom edge is bound with green velvet.
The evening bodice (.b) is of matching silk, although the skirt would have to be removed from its current bodice if the evening bodice was to be used with the dress. The neckline is wide and square, and trimmed with cream-colored silk lace. The cap sleeves are created from gathered puffs of self-fabric. The waistline is short, measuring 6 3/4 inches at the side, under the armscye seam. The neckline, armscye seams, and waistline edge are piped. The bodice has a center back closure with a green silk-covered, brass-tipped lace. Four six-inch darts in the front of the bodice are boned. White twill-woven cotton lines the bodice.
The cape collar (.c) is scalloped across the front and over the shoulders, then descends to a point at center back. The edges are turned up and seamed at the center back, so that the point is like a pocket. The outer edges are trimmed with green silk fringe. The neckline is bound with the green silk.
The overskirt (.d) is of matching silk. It is made of three petal-shaped panels, trimmed with a fringed self-ruffle; it is gathered at the center back and has two narrow pleats on either side of the center front opening. The overskirt ties in front with two wide, velvet-bound self-fabric ties. The lining is stiff, plain-woven cotton.
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