Girl's Dress

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Mary Caroline Ogden Pierson (American, 1874 - 1949)

Clothing MakerMade by Unknown

Dateabout 1878

MediumMachine-stitched cotton, with machine-made bobbin lace and thread-covered bone (probably) buttons

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width): 26 x 10in. (66 x 25.4cm)

ClassificationsCostume

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Byard Williams

Object number1988.85.6

DescriptionYoung girl's dress of fine, white cotton, with a high, rounded neckline edged with bobbin lace and long sleeves, gathered into the shoulder. The sleeves are also gathered into a band of lace insertion about the wrist. The wrist openings are edged with two rows of bobbin lace. The dress has a dropped waistline. The front of the dress, between the neck and waistline, has vertical rows of ruched self-fabric, alternating with bobbin lace insertion. The outer edges of this panel are trimmed with a ruffle of bobbin lace. The skirt has two horizontal rows of lace insertion flanking a row of ruched self-fabric. Below this is a gathered band of the cotton fabric, about five inches deep, edged with two-inch-wide bobbin lace. Around the neckline at the back of the dress, is a square insertion of the vertical rows of lace and ruched self-fabric. The center back opening is seventeen inches long and fastens with seven small thread-covered buttons.

NotesHistorical Notes: Mary Caroline Ogden Pierson Cheney (1874-1949) had her picture taken in this dress when she was a child. It was donated to the Connecticut Historical Society by her daughter, Hannay Latimer Cheney Williams (b. 1912).

Status

Not on view