Dress
Original OwnerProbably originally owned by
Mrs. Seth Griswold
(American)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1875
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched cotton, with silk ribbon, unidentified boning, and brass hooks and eyes
DimensionsBodice (back length x width across shoulders): 22 x 17 1/2in. (55.9 x 44.5cm)
Bodice (front length): 17in. (43.2cm)
Skirt (back length): 43in. (109.2cm)
Skirt (front length): 40in. (101.6cm)
Hem (circumference): 116in. (294.6cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Bradford Griswold
Object number1978.105.38a-d
DescriptionWhite cotton book muslin or organdy three-part evening dress, consisting of a bodice (.a), a skirt (.b) and an overskirt (.c). The bodice has a low, round neckline, and pointed waist in front. The back is deeply pointed. It closes at center front with brass hooks and eyes. The bodice is decorated with gathered strips of self-fabric around the neckline, and in a V-shape in the center bodice, over the shoulders, and around the back. The center back of the bodice, between the bands of gathered self-fabric, has a rosette of ecru grosgrain silk ribbon (1 7/8 inches wide) trailing a ten-inch loop of the ribbon and two tails, 23 and 27 inches long. The shoulder is dropped. The neckline and armscye seams are piped. The sleeves are three-quarter-length, and decorated with three rows of ruched self-fabric, ending in a narrow ruffle around the opening. The opening is further embellished with soft, pleated ecru tulle. The waist edge is trimmed with a ruffle of self-fabric, gathered on a central cord. The bodice is fitted with 5 1/2-inch-long darts on either side of the opening; the darts are boned. White cotton sateen is used for the bodice lining. Fine, plain-woven, white cotton is used for a short, gathered undersleeve.
The skirt (.b) has been removed from its original waistband and is now gathered on a drawstring of white cotton tape. The organdy is gathered in vertical rows to form an entablier front, edged with a self-fabric ruffle gathered over a cord. Three tiers of deep, self-fabric flounces surround the skirt, beginning on either side of the front panel, gradually deepening into a train.
An overskirt (.c), also of the organdy, is gathered to a band of white cotton. It is open at center front, sloping to a deep, rounded back in the style of a polonaise. The edge is trimmed with a self-fabric ruffle.
A fragment (.d) is approximately V-shaped, trimmed with a self-fabric ruffle, and probably came off the overskirt.
The skirt (.b) has been removed from its original waistband and is now gathered on a drawstring of white cotton tape. The organdy is gathered in vertical rows to form an entablier front, edged with a self-fabric ruffle gathered over a cord. Three tiers of deep, self-fabric flounces surround the skirt, beginning on either side of the front panel, gradually deepening into a train.
An overskirt (.c), also of the organdy, is gathered to a band of white cotton. It is open at center front, sloping to a deep, rounded back in the style of a polonaise. The edge is trimmed with a self-fabric ruffle.
A fragment (.d) is approximately V-shaped, trimmed with a self-fabric ruffle, and probably came off the overskirt.
Status
Not on view
