Dress
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1845
MediumHand-stitched silk and cotton, with brass hooks and eyes, silk-covered wooden buttons, mother of pearl buttons, and boning (probably baleen)
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width across shoulders): 53 x 17 1/2in. (134.6 x 44.5cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Peter and Cheryl Stevens
DescriptionWoman's light green silk day dress with V-shaped waistline. The bodice fabric is gathered into the V and controlled by rows of stitching for about 4 1/2 inches, then the fullness is released and fanned out to the shoulders. The bodice back is smooth. The neckline is a wide V shape. The bodice seams are piped. The sleeves are short and tight; the opening edge is trimmed with several rows of bias self-fabric strips. Three self-covered decorative buttons are stitched along the top of the sleeve. Detachable long sleeves fasten with two mother of pearl buttons inside the short sleeves. The detachable sleeves are piped along the seam and around the wrist opening; the fabric is gathered into the seam at the elbow to provide ease, as the sleeves are otherwise very tight. The skirt is cartridge-pleated into the waistline. The dress opens at center back and fastens with brass hooks and eyes. The bodice seams are all boned. The bodice is lined with undyed twill-woven cotton. The upper area of the skirt has a separate lining of printed brown cotton, finished with a pinked edge, to give extra support and shape. The lower skirt is lined with glazed brown cotton. The hem is 1 1/2 inches deep.
Object number2002.42.3a-c
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