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Dress

Clothing MakerMade by Unknown
Dateabout 1877-1880
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched wool and cotton, with brass hooks, and wool-covered wooden buttons
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (center back length x width between shoulders): 60 x 15in. (152.4 x 38.1cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Sophia Burdick
DescriptionWoman's princess line day dress, made of two different plain-woven wool fabrics: one is solid black, the other is a woven plaid in red, white, green, blue, and brown. The length of the center front is inset with a panel of the black fabric decorated with horizontal bars of the plaid fabric. The rest of the dress, except for the sleeves, is made of the plaid fabric. The seams of the dress alongside the front panel, from the shoulderline to the hem, are trimmed with non-functioning buttons covered with the black wool, piping covered with black wool, and a ruffle of the plaid bound along the edge with the black wool. The neckline is high and round, finished with a binding of the black fabric. The shoulderline is dropped; the armscye is piped with the plaid fabric. The two-piece sleeves are trimmed at the wrist openings with two bands of the plaid piped with the black, and a pleated plaid ruffle, which is also edged with the black wool. The dress opens along the left side of the center front panel; it fastens with metal hooks and thread eyes. There is an in-seam pocket at the proper right hip; the opening is edged with a plaid ruffle bound in black.

Three tiers of plaid fabric ruffles edged with the black wool are stitched across the bottom of the skirt's back panel. The dress has a slight train. Plain brown cotton is used to line the dress. A strip of the lining fabric stitched to the inside of the back of the skirt fastens across the skirt behind the knees to control the fullness.
Object number1963.11.10
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
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    Mrs. Williams
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