Digital Collections

Gown, Dressing

Clothing/Dress/Costume

Entirely hand-stitched dressing gown made of coarse Z-singles cotton cloth with Z2S cotton thread. The design consists of a block print with tomato-red ground with white bandana-type spots and a bit of the colored border remaining on the front hem. Side seams with two gores like a chemise. Long tubular sleeves turned up and crudely gathered at the wrist. Pleats at back neckline covered with facing of homemade blue checked linen. Slit on either side of the neck accommodates narrow pleats of the front section, forming a graceful fit of the front opening. Twice-turned narrow hem. Unlined. Adapted for later use by forming a casing across the back just below the armpits, into which 2 linen tape ties are run in opposite directions, to emerge from the side seam for tying in front. Evidence of pinning. Five patches of the same cloth, apparently from a scrap bag- color bright and threads firm. Some are stitched with blue-dyed Z singles linen. Golden brown linen was used to stitch the casing and white for some patches. Golden brown linen is also used on front and back hems, and neck facing.

G2002.138

Bruce and Susan Greene Costume Collection

Adult, Female

Historic Costume

Dressing Gown

Female

Cotton

Red

1750 - 1775

Pennsylvania

United States of America

North America

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