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Historic Costume | Fine and Decorative Arts

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Dress

Clothing/Dress/Costume

Girl’s dress, entirely hand stitched, made of a form of barrege, a leno weave with what appears to be a white pina warp MID* and very fine white wool MID weft with closely packed wefts about every inch. It is printed with small, irregular horizontal band motifs that suggest distant mountain tops, in shades of blue and red, probably perrotine printed since the motif is about 4” high and has a sideways repeat of about 12”. The dress has a wide shallow piped neckline, sloping off the shoulder with short puffed sleeves finished with a deep frill of machine lace. Coarse, soft unglazed PW cotton lining, cloth draped loosely over it with narrow pleats at CF and CB waist; waist piped with white. Hooks and eyes on lining only, in back. Full skirt with deep hem. Made quickly with long stitches. "*The fiber is clearly made of ribs or bundles, a bit knobby, twisted here and there. It could be jute or hemp but I am gambling on pina since it was more likely. Similarly, the wool is very fine with delicate annular scales- I assume it is merino or the like. Of course, it is meant to be worn with a crinoline and white petticoat.

G2009.053

Bruce and Susan Greene Costume Collection

1855 - 1865

User Age: Youth Gender: Female

printed berrage

pina

wool

perrotine printed

piping

machine lace

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