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Historic Costume | Fine and Decorative Arts

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Dress

Clothing/Dress/Costume

2-piece evening gown made of pink silk taffeta. Bodice (a) - pointed back and center waist. The waistline is slightly higher than the 'true waist'. Lined with cotton with light boning at the center front, the center back, and the side seams. Lining seams are whip-stitched down flat to cotton lining; small puffed sleeves, gathered to bodice with small box pleats - now crushed. Sleeves filled with embroidered lace netting. The center back closure of the bodice is spiral lacing - small handbound eyelets and original lacing tie present. Armscye and hem of bodice bound in a double row of small piping; machined seams. The four-point bow of taffeta at center bust - pinked edges / Van Dyke'd; two rows of graduated double-pinked trim across neckline - also Van Dyke'd pinking. Hand whip-stitched to the bodice. Bow has a small silk-pinked rosette in the center. Small hidden band of netting across neckline behind pinked trim - which has a drawstring passed through it; small hook and eye closures at top and bottom of the center back lacing. Skirt (b) - lined with horse hair interfacing netting 'gauze'. The skirt is made of 14 panels. 13 are gored while the center back panel is cut on grain. Bound at hem with twill tape dyed to match. Set in waistband with graduated double box pleats. Closure is on the left side. Pocket on the left side, just before closure. Inner seams are finished with a hand whip-stitch. Velcro has been added to the waist, along with modern cotton twill tape. The waist has been re-set at some point and brought in; double rows of graduated, double pinked trim, Van Dyke'd, in zig-zags across the skirt. Four-pointed bow across the skirt, with rosettes in the center. Has a specially made crinoline cage for the skirt - stored alongside hanging storage.

2019.08.1ab

Genesee Country Village and Museum

Adult, Female

Historic Costume

Dress

Female

Taffeta

Silk

Pink

Orange

1858 - 1863

United States of America

North America

Bodice

14-1/2 in

28 in

Skirt

180 in

24 in

2

Bodice - 2019.08.1a Skirt - 2019.08.1b

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