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Dress

Clothing MakerMade by Unknown
Dateabout 1898-1900
MediumMachine-stitched silk and cotton, with steel boning and wool hem fringe
DimensionsBodice (center back of bodice): 17 3/8in. (44.1cm)
Skirt (center front length x circumference ): 40 x 117in. (101.6 x 297.2cm)
Bodice (length x width ): 15 1/4 x 12in. (38.7 x 30.5cm)
Skirt (center back length ): 40 7/8in. (103.8cm)
Skirt (waist circumference): 23 1/4in. (59.1cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Peter and Cheryl Stevens
DescriptionWoman's two-piece day dress, consisting of a bodice (.a) and skirt (.b), of brown silk, with black and black/white warp-print stripes. The bodice has a rounded insert in front and a yoke in back of plain brown silk sewn in tucks. Wrapping around the neck is a high, stiff band collar, also of the tucked brown silk, which fastens with hooks and eyes at the center back. The top of the collar is edged with a narrow ruffle of the striped brown silk. The insert is bordered on the front of the bodice with a band of plain brown silk, edged with narrow ruffles of the striped fabric. The center front opening is decorated with revers of brown silk, also edged with narrow ruffles. The bodice lining fastens separately from the silk fabric, but both close with hooks and eyes at the bodice's center front. The silk fabric is ruched across the lower center front, with the fullness then gathered under the border of the neckline insert. The shoulderline is normal. The sleeves are narrow; they are gathered slightly at the top of the shoulder. The wrist openings are edged with a narrow self-ruffle. The bodice is lined with brown twill-woven cotton. All of the seams are boned; the steel boning is specially manufactured with woven casings.

The skirt is darted and gored to make it fit smoothly across the front and hips; it is closely gathered at center back. The center back opening fastens with a hook and eye on the waistband. The skirt is lined with brown glazed cotton, with a stiff interlining around the bottom. A very short and bushy brown wool fringe is stitched around the bottom edge.
Object number2002.42.1a,b
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
    Front of dress without the matching cape.
    Lyle N. Roapelye
    about 1885
    Wedding Dress
    Myrtie Evelyn Bennett
    1892
    Wedding Dress
    Libbie B. Tuller
    1892
    Lucy Mather Brace
    about 1895
    Dress
    Unknown
    about 1875
    Front of dress with evening bodice 2.

Gift of Mrs. Seth P. Holcombe and Mrs. Gilbert A. Wick…
    Mary Jane Buel
    about 1890-1895, altered from earlier dress
    Dress
    Adelaide Rathbone
    about 1892-1894
    Dress
    Mary Gray Morris
    about 1892-1893
    Dress
    Mary Elizabeth Carter
    about 1883
    Dress
    Mary Ann Patten
    about 1893
    Dress
    Mrs. Charles B. Smith
    about 1890