Wedding Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Marie Osvoald
(German)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1887
MediumMachine-stitched silk and cotton, with wool hem tape, ferrous metal boning, ferrous metal hooks and eyes, ferrous metal buttons, elastic, and plastic and abalone buttons
DimensionsBodice (center back opening x width between shoulders): 21 3/8 x 14 3/8in. (54.3 x 36.5cm)
Skirt (center back length x hem circumference): 38 1/2 x 74in. (97.8 x 188cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of the Glaeser family
Object number1993.64.1.1a,b
DescriptionWoman's day wedding dress, consisting of a bodice (.a) and skirt (.b), made of dark hunter green silk satin. The cuirass bodice has a standing band collar, 1 1/2 inch high, edged with a pleated ruffle of white crepe. The center front opening fastens with twelve steel buttons, which have a floral design on a dark green background in the center. The three-quarter-length, two-piece sleeves are set smoothly into the armscye, which is set at the natural shoulderline. The sleeves end with turned-back cuffs with a deep, V-shaped notch at the outside of the arm. The back is constructed from six pattern pieces; below the waistline, the seams open up to layered knife pleats to fit over the fullness of the bustle. The front is fitted with two 8 1/2-inch-long darts on each side. The proper left edge of the front opening is boned; none of the other seams or darts are boned. The lining fabric is brown, twill-woven cotton. There are dress shields of white machine-knitted cotton mounted inside the lower armscye. Dark blue wool hem tape is stitched across the side back panels at the waistline for stability. The top of the pleats across the center back are bound with dark green wool twill tape.
The skirt is pleated asymmetrically into the waistband, which is a replacement. (The waist of the skirt is several inches larger than the waistline of the bodice.) Additionally, the front panel of fabric is pleated up into the proper left front seam to create a draped effect. The bottom of the skirt is edged with a box-pleated, self-fabric ruffle. The fullness of the back of the skirt is controlled with two strips of steel boning set horizontally behind the knees, with the ends pulled together with lengths of elastic and wool tapes. The skirt is lined with black glazed cotton. The bottom edge is bound with dark green wool hem tape. The replacement waistband is plain, black cotton, with a plastic and abalone button closure.
The skirt is pleated asymmetrically into the waistband, which is a replacement. (The waist of the skirt is several inches larger than the waistline of the bodice.) Additionally, the front panel of fabric is pleated up into the proper left front seam to create a draped effect. The bottom of the skirt is edged with a box-pleated, self-fabric ruffle. The fullness of the back of the skirt is controlled with two strips of steel boning set horizontally behind the knees, with the ends pulled together with lengths of elastic and wool tapes. The skirt is lined with black glazed cotton. The bottom edge is bound with dark green wool hem tape. The replacement waistband is plain, black cotton, with a plastic and abalone button closure.
Status
Not on view
