Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by the
Seymour family
(American)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1893-1896
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk and cotton, with silk ribbon, ferrous metal and non-ferrous metal boning, ferrous metal and non-ferrous metal hooks and eyes, wool hem tape, elastic, gutta percha (?) buttons, and cotton wadding
DimensionsBodice (length excluding bow x width between shoulders): 18 x 14 1/2in. (45.7 x 36.8cm)
Skirt (length x hem circumference): 42 5/8 x 175in. (108.3 x 444.5cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1120a-c
DescriptionWoman's day dress, consisting of a bodice (.a) and skirt (.b), along with matching fabric scraps (.c). The silk fabric has a fine woven stripe of brown and black which makes the fabric look ribbed; it is warp-printed with sprays of pink rose buds and green leaves. The bodice has a 2 3/8-inch-high standing collar covered with horizontally pleated olive green satin ribbon. The collar wraps around the neck and hooks at the center back under a large bow. The center front opening of the bodice is hidden under a wide box pleat from the neckline to where it gathers at the pointed waistline. It fastens with hooks and eyes under this pleat. The olive green satin ribbon is laid in a V formation from the shoulders to the bust and also from the front armscye seams to the waist, where it is tied in a large, droopy bow. The back of the bodice is laid in four, slightly fanned-out pleats from the dipped waistline to the neckline. The leg-o'-mutton sleeves are very full on the upper arm, tapering quickly at the elbow to a tight wrist. The bodice is fitted with two 8 1/2-inch-long darts on each side of the front, while the back is constructed of six pattern pieces to achieve a close fit. All darts and seams are boned. The lining is plain, black cotton. There are white twill cotton dress shields, wadded with cotton, stitched at the underarm seam. A black grosgrain petersham encircles the waist, and three buttonholes worked in the lining fabric are mounted on the back seams in the waist area for attaching the skirt.
The gored skirt is smooth across the front and hips, and pleated for fullness across the center back. The waistband is 1 3/8 inches wide; it is lined with black grosgrain ribbon. The skirt is unornamented. The bottom of the skirt is interlined with an unidentified stiff material, and edged with brown wool twill tape. The lining is black cotton, supplemented with brown silk for a depth of 8 1/2 inches around the bottom. Strips of elastic across the back of the skirt on the inside help control the fullness towards the back. There are three dark (gutta percha?) buttons on the back of the waistband for attaching to the bodice lining, to help keep the heavy skirt from sagging in the back.
The gored skirt is smooth across the front and hips, and pleated for fullness across the center back. The waistband is 1 3/8 inches wide; it is lined with black grosgrain ribbon. The skirt is unornamented. The bottom of the skirt is interlined with an unidentified stiff material, and edged with brown wool twill tape. The lining is black cotton, supplemented with brown silk for a depth of 8 1/2 inches around the bottom. Strips of elastic across the back of the skirt on the inside help control the fullness towards the back. There are three dark (gutta percha?) buttons on the back of the waistband for attaching to the bodice lining, to help keep the heavy skirt from sagging in the back.
Status
Not on view
