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Historic Costume | Fine and Decorative Arts

Welcome to our Online Collections Database! Below you will find a searchable database showcasing images and information regarding tens of thousands of items in our online collection. Search using search terms, key words, object names, or names of historical figures to locate specific items, or, peruse at random to enjoy the breadth of collections available for view.

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Wedding Dress and Pelerine

Clothing/Dress/Costume

Wedding dress of off-white silk with a complex twill weave, lined with lightweight linen. Wide neckline, finished with piping; center back closure with hooks and eyes (top hook missing). Front of bodice is gathered to piped shoulder seams, but pleated below bust to top of waistband, with pleats pointing toward piped center front seam. Bodice lining dips down to just below the bust point/above the pleats in front, and has a narrow whalebone inserted into channel at center front. Curved, piped side back seams. Full sleeves, pleated to piped armscye, and tapering from elbow to wrist, where they are piped and fasten with a hook and thread eye. Straight skirt is pleated to waistband across front and sides, and gauged at center back. Hem is faced with slightly heavier, stained linen. Hand sewn. Matching pelerine of the same silk, lined with the same linen as the bodice. Neck edge is bound and the rest is piped; lower edge is also trimmed, outside of piping, with bias band of same silk. Also hand sewn.

G2009.051a-b

Worn by Elizabeth Cooper Cope (1812-1880) on her marriage in 1839 to William Morris Collins (1811-1864)

Bruce and Susan Greene Costume Collection

Adult, Female

Historic Costume

Dress

Female

Twill

Silk

Linen

White

1839

19th Century

Early 19th Century

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

United States of America

North America

Collins, Elizabeth Cooper Cope

Pennsylvania

United States of America

North America

Wedding

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