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Historic Costume | Fine and Decorative Arts
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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