"Mostly hand stitched colonial style fancy dress presumably made for the Centennial. a) The basis is a ball gown c 1850 made of beautiful pale green watered silk with a chine or warp printed pattern of what appears to be Veronica or speedwell plants with the roots, as seen in a botanical illustration. Speedwell indicated female fidelity in the Victorian language of flowers......The original gown had a laced back, deep points front and back. The fairly straight sleeves appear to be the only ones ever set in the armscyes, now straight and elbow length. The Watteau back undoubtedly was obtained by removing a skirt panel to supply an extension to the back skirt; the remainder supplied the double sleeve frill. Trained skirt. The neckline was filled in with a pleated green silk ribbon band edged with cream lace. The original opening is decorated with three large ditto bows, with one on each shoulder and elbow. More ribbon used to form double interlaced robings on the open skirt.b) Petticoat (recycled also?) of white taffeta interlined with tarlatan, the front with graduated tiers of silk net flounces with green ribbon folded into the bottom edge. The lowest goes all around the skirt."