Mourning Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Esther Burr
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1865-1870
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk and cotton, with silk velvet ribbon, wool hem tape, and ferrous metal buttons covered with a silk/cotton fabric
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width across shoulders): 53 x 18 1/2in. (134.6 x 47cm)
Hem (circumference): 126in. (320cm)
Hem (circumference): 126in. (320cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. E. S. Holland
DescriptionWoman's mourning dress of black silk. The dress is styled with a high, round neckline, dropped shoulder, and slightly high waistline (measuring six inches at the side, under the armscye). The coat sleeves are trimmed with a single band of black velvet ribbon above the wrist. The bodice closes at center front with eight buttons covered with a ribbed black silk and cotton fabric (three buttons are missing). The neckline is bound with the black silk fabric; the armscye seams and waistline edge are piped. The bodice is fitted with two five-inch darts on either side of the opening. The bodice is lined with light brown glazed cotton in the back and light brown twill-woven cotton in the front.
The skirt is flat in front and cartridge-pleated around the hips and back. The skirt panels are pieced at the top and old stitch marks and fold lines indicate that the fabric was possibly reused, or the skirt was remade (inconsistencies in the cartridge pleating suggest the skirt was remade at some point), or both. The skirt is lined with dark brown glazed cotton. There is an in-seam pocket on the right side. The bottom edge of the skirt is bound with black wool tape.
The skirt is flat in front and cartridge-pleated around the hips and back. The skirt panels are pieced at the top and old stitch marks and fold lines indicate that the fabric was possibly reused, or the skirt was remade (inconsistencies in the cartridge pleating suggest the skirt was remade at some point), or both. The skirt is lined with dark brown glazed cotton. There is an in-seam pocket on the right side. The bottom edge of the skirt is bound with black wool tape.
Object number1977.102.19
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