Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Mrs. Williams
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1876
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk and cotton, with wool tape, silk-covered wooden buttons, unidentified boning, and brass hooks and eyes
DimensionsBodice (center back length x width across shoulders): 24 x 15 1/2in. (61 x 39.4cm)
Skirt (center front length): 39in. (99.1cm)
Skirt (center back length): 49 1/2in. (125.7cm)
Hem (circumference): 115in. (292.1cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Arthur V. R. Tilton
Object number1959.4.10a,b
DescriptionWoman's plum-colored silk day dress trimmed with velvet, consisting of two parts: bodice (.a), and skirt (.b). The bodice has a center front opening which fastens with twelve dome-shaped buttons covered with matching plum silk threadwork. Dark plum-colored velvet trims the edges of the opening to the shoulderline. The high, round neckline is finished with a standing pleated ruffle of the silk fabric. The shoulderline is dropped and the armscye is piped. The sleeves are trimmed at the outside of the wrist with pleated self-fabric ruffle and a bow, topped by a semicircle of the velvet. The bodice extends over the hips, and is pointed at center front. The back panels on either side of the center back vent are pointed. The bottom edge of the bodice is trimmed with a band of velvet over a two-inch fringe of matching plum-colored silk threads. The back of the bodice is trimmed with two vertical rows of velvet, which are pulled up in loops at the waistline. All of the velvet trim on the bodice is edged with a narrow bias strip of the silk. The bodice is fitted with two darts on either side of the center front opening. These darts and the side seams are boned. A horizontal tuck is taken at the waistline in the side front panels of the bodice. The bodice has been altered at this point in order to lower the waistline. Tan twill-woven cotton fabric lines the bodice. Raw edges are finished with a whip stitch.
The skirt is trained, and the front is decorated with diagonal strips of velvet alternating with plain silk. Two of the velvet bands are edged with fringe. A 10 1/2-inch-wide flounce headed by a band of velvet and self-fabric ruffle encircles the lower skirt. The flounce is trimmed with a band of velvet near the bottom. The lower edge of the skirt is bound with purple wool tape. A patch pocket of gathered self-fabric trimmed with a bow of velvet and plain silk is set on the proper right side of the skirt. The back of the skirt is gathered in a large pouf, flanked on one side by a long and wide velvet streamer, trimmed with silk piping and fringe. This streamer is pulled up in a loop below the pouf. Another streamer of silk trimmed with velvet and fringe is stitched across the bottom of the pouf, and hangs to the right of the velvet streamer. The skirt is set into the waistband flat in front, with small pleats over the hips, and then gathered across the back. It hooks on the proper left side. The skirt is lined with glazed tan cotton. Pink glazed cotton lines the lower thirteen inches of the skirt, the waistband, and the streamers.
The skirt is trained, and the front is decorated with diagonal strips of velvet alternating with plain silk. Two of the velvet bands are edged with fringe. A 10 1/2-inch-wide flounce headed by a band of velvet and self-fabric ruffle encircles the lower skirt. The flounce is trimmed with a band of velvet near the bottom. The lower edge of the skirt is bound with purple wool tape. A patch pocket of gathered self-fabric trimmed with a bow of velvet and plain silk is set on the proper right side of the skirt. The back of the skirt is gathered in a large pouf, flanked on one side by a long and wide velvet streamer, trimmed with silk piping and fringe. This streamer is pulled up in a loop below the pouf. Another streamer of silk trimmed with velvet and fringe is stitched across the bottom of the pouf, and hangs to the right of the velvet streamer. The skirt is set into the waistband flat in front, with small pleats over the hips, and then gathered across the back. It hooks on the proper left side. The skirt is lined with glazed tan cotton. Pink glazed cotton lines the lower thirteen inches of the skirt, the waistband, and the streamers.
Status
Not on view
