Wedding Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Hannah Scoville Yale
(American, 1818 - 1847)
DressmakerMade by
Unknown
Date1839
MediumHand-stitched silk with cotton lining, boning, and brass hooks and eyes
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall length x shoulder width): 50 x 15 1/2in. (127 x 39.4cm)
Hem (circumference): 102in. (259.1cm)
Other (sleeve length): 20in. (50.8cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Miss Elizabeth Yale Hall
Object number1950.16.22a-b
DescriptionLight golden brown silk damask wedding dress, with a full skirt, pointed bodice, and banded-down sleeves. The neckline is wide and the shoulderline is dropped. The sleeves are set into the armhole with many small pleats, the fullness of which are controlled with a one-inch-wide self-fabric band stitched 2 1/2 inches down the top of the arm, and then with a ruffle about another two inches down; at this point the fullness is released and then pleated and stitched down again at the wrist. The width of the shoulderline is accentuated by horizontal pleating across the bodice front. All bodice seams are piped. The bodice closes at center back with hooks and eyes. The bodice is lined with cream-colored plain-woven cotton fabric. It is boned at the center back, center front, and to either side of the center front. The skirt is knife-pleated into the bodice waistline (though straight across the center front point); it is full all the way around. The hem is lined for 5 1/2 inches with glazed brown cotton.
The dress has a matching, separate cape collar. The collar edge is piped all around; it is fashioned with decorative "slits" in the area of the outside arm, which are then laced with a golden silk tasseled cord. The lower center back of the collar is gathered into a narrow band, forming a short "tail," from which hangs a very long, double silk cord with tassels.
NotesObject Note: This dress is accompanied by a matching pelerine. A popular fashion of the 1830s and 1840s, pelerines are separate wide, cape-like collars, often made of fabric corresponding to the dress fabric, or of white cotton usually decorated with embroidery. These collars sometimes had long extensions, called lappets, which hung down the front and were placed under a belt. This particular type of pelerine is sometimes referred to as a fichu pelerine. While pelerines could be used for modesty or warmth, their primary purpose appears to be as a decorative accessory. (DePauw 7/13/2010)The dress has a matching, separate cape collar. The collar edge is piped all around; it is fashioned with decorative "slits" in the area of the outside arm, which are then laced with a golden silk tasseled cord. The lower center back of the collar is gathered into a narrow band, forming a short "tail," from which hangs a very long, double silk cord with tassels.
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