Wedding Dress
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Jennie Fairfield Dowd
American
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1882
MediumMachine-stitched wool/cotton, cotton, and silk; machine-made lace, with tagua nut buttons and glass buttons, and wool hem tape
DimensionsBodice (center front length x width across shoulders): 15 x 16 1/2in. (38.1 x 41.9cm)
Bodice (center back length ): 17in. (43.2cm)
Skirt (center front length): 41in. (104.1cm)
Skirt (center back length): 41 1/2in. (105.4cm)
Hem (skirt hem circumference): 91in. (231.1cm)
Bodice (center back length ): 17in. (43.2cm)
Skirt (center front length): 41in. (104.1cm)
Skirt (center back length): 41 1/2in. (105.4cm)
Hem (skirt hem circumference): 91in. (231.1cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Pearl Tiffany
DescriptionWoman's two-piece dress, consisting of a bodice (.1a) and skirt (.1b), made of a tan-colored wool/cotton fabric with a woven pattern of twill stripes and open-weave squares. The bodice has a high, round neck edged with machine-made lace. The fabric is ruched at the neckline center back, and at the shoulderline in front. It is also ruched on either side of the lower front and at the lower center back. The shoulderline is slightly dropped and the armscye is piped. The sleeves, which are cut with an upper and lower seam, have a four-inch-wide decoration of ruched tan silk over a lace edging at the wrist openings. Above this, a 1 3/4-inch-wide pale aqua satin ribbon is tied in a bow around the sleeve. The bodice lining is brown twill-woven cotton. The bodice opens at center front; the lining is separate in this area and fastens with small white glass buttons. The fashion fabric fastens over the lining with nine ball-shaped tagua nut ("vegetable ivory") buttons. Three larger ball buttons are separate from the bodice; it is not clear where they were originally placed.
The skirt has rounded, apron-like drapery across the flat front; this drapery is edged with a band of tan silk. Under the drapery, the skirt is stitched with two rows of self-fabric ruffles headed by tan silk bands, following the contour of the drapery. The bottom of the skirt is encircled with a 10 1/2-inch-wide self-fabric flounce. The drapery of the back of the skirt is pulled up into a bustle effect. Tapes sewn inside the skirt pull and control the skirt's fullness behind the legs. Brown glazed cotton lines the skirt; the bottom edge is bound with tan wool tape.
The skirt has rounded, apron-like drapery across the flat front; this drapery is edged with a band of tan silk. Under the drapery, the skirt is stitched with two rows of self-fabric ruffles headed by tan silk bands, following the contour of the drapery. The bottom of the skirt is encircled with a 10 1/2-inch-wide self-fabric flounce. The drapery of the back of the skirt is pulled up into a bustle effect. Tapes sewn inside the skirt pull and control the skirt's fullness behind the legs. Brown glazed cotton lines the skirt; the bottom edge is bound with tan wool tape.
Object number1961.43.1.1a-b
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