Object Record
Images
Metadata
Collection |
Clothing-Women's |
Catalog Number |
XC.04.32 |
Object Name |
Dress |
Year Range from |
1870.0 |
Year Range to |
1880.0 |
Creator |
Maker Unknown |
Place of Origin |
Probably Southeastern Pennsylvania |
Material |
Cotton, Silk, Wool |
Dimensions |
L-56 inches |
Description |
A ladies pale yellow wool dress with a purple and green fruit print. The dress has been altered, but the overall appearance and original construction is from the 1870s. The dress has a high stand up collar that slightly folds down and reveals a purple silk grosgrain lining. At the back of the collar are two pieces of a box pleated self-fabric trim with an application of purple silk ribbon. The pleated trims are applied into chevrons with two purple velvet covered buttons attached at each point. There is a center front button placket running from neck to hem using twenty-two purple velvet covered buttons (missing ten buttons). Hook and eye closures and snaps have also been added much later where the buttons are missing. The placket is flanked by an attached semi-circular panels with a pleated self-fabric trim and four applications of purple grosgrain ribbon, two silk and two rayon. It is likely this piece was removed from the hem and added later with the additional contemporary ribbon decoration. The panels emulate an overskirt or polonaise style, with added volume to the hip area. The long and full sleeves are set into the arm syce. At the cuff there is an attached pleated self-fabric flounce edged with purple silk ribbon and a strip of purple rayon ribbon applied to the center of the flounce. A matching homemade belt has been fashioned out of the same fabric (probably cut during the repair/repurposing) and is trimmed with the purple rayon ribbon. The belt is also lined with a cotton gauze. The belt does not have a closure but probably had a hook and eye closure at one point. If following the trends of the 1870s, the belt would have been worn over the ruffled side panels. The skirt is gored and long and full with an attached pleated flounce at the hem which features trimming of the purple rayon ribbon. There is also a pocket on the proper right side of the skirt. The bodice is lined with a contemporary white cotton and there is evidence of the removal of boning. Attached to the waist is an interior self-fabric waistband with no closure. The sleeves are lined in a glazed cream cotton which are authentic to the original dress. At the back the princess seaming has been done recently as the style of machine stitching is not period. Attached to the inside are two handwritten tags that read "Farrell" and "Morgan" and probably related to a character/actor from a play. The skirt also features evidence of alteration, probably a panel was removed to create a slimmer shape. It is possible this was an earlier 1870s dress that was repurposed to emulate the changing trends of the mid to late 1870s. However there are many components that were also done more recently. The dress is machine constructed with some hand finishing details. |
Provenance |
There is no information about the maker or origin of this piece. |
Cataloged by |
C.Harvey |