Digital Collections

Bodice, Shortgown

Object/Artifact

Entirely hand stitched printed cotton shortgown. Design is brown ground with white evergreen-tree-like reserves filled with an arrow shape black on one side and red on the other. Blue threads in selvage. Stitched mostly with what appears to be unbleached linen thread or white linen. Rectangular form, one piece for body with tubular sleeves attached selvage-to-selvage. Little gores in side hip. Appled casing inside for heavy plied cotton drawstring; back is strip of discharge indigo print; front is checked cotton. Narrow PW linen tape drawstring through round neckline casing; bit of blue/white stripe added to reinforce stress at back neck; tucks and mends also. Under arms were fitted with pieced strips to enlarge circumference. Neatly fitted.

G2003.188

Bruce and Susan Greene Costume Collection

1800 - 1810

shortgown

shirt

hand stitched

cotton

printed cotton

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