Digital Collections

Dress, Christening

Object/Artifact

Infant’s Christening gown made of soft ivory silk satin, trimmed with ivory fly fringe. Entirely hand stitched with off white linen S singles thread. Bodice lined with ivory cotton jean (MID) that has pilled; skirt and sleeves lined with fine ivory Persian with light blue selvages showing through. Front neckline has a double-curved “sweetheart” neckline.Tubular sleeves with cuffs, finished before being tacked to lower armscye of finished bodice. Finished straps with curved ends are attached at back neck; appear to have been stitched to sleeve tops after the baby was inside it. Body and skirt cut in one and fitted to body with sets of released pleats — 3 on either side of front, 1 at each side, and 3 inverted pleats in back. Bottoms of front pleats stitched in place at hem. Elaborate ivory silk loop and fly fringe sewn straight along the edge of cuff and the front opening of skirt; it meanders slightly around the hem.

G2006.154

Bruce and Susan Greene Costume Collection

1760 - 1780

Infant

Christening

gown

ivory

silk satin

hand stitched

linen

cotton jean

light blue selvages

sweetheart neckline

tubular sleeves

ivory silk loop

fly fringe

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