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Woman's petticoat
Woman's underdress
Woman's petticoat
Worn by: Mehetable Stoddard Sumner (Welles) (American, 1784–1826)
American
early 19th century
Place of Use: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Medium/Technique
Cotton plain weave, cotton embroidery, cotton twill tape, linen plain weave tape
Dimensions
Center Front: 117.5 cm (46 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Emily Welles Robbins (Mrs. Harry Pelham Robbins) and the Hon. Sumner Welles, in memory of Georgiana Welles Sargent
Accession Number49.876
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionWhite high-waisted underdress, drawstrings at neck and waist, narrow shoulder straps, back tie closure, embroidered with large-scale scrolling floral motifs with meandering vine and bands of dots along bottom edge of skirt; hole in skirt at center front
InscriptionsWritten in ink on fabric label sewn at back: "petticoat 1820-1825 Mrs. B. Welles, Boston"
ProvenanceWorn by Mehetable Stoddard Sumner (Mrs. Benjamin Welles) (1784-1826) of Boston; Inherited by her granddaughter Miss Georgiana Welles Sargent (born 1858) of New York City; Gift of Emily Welles Robbins (Mrs. Harry Pelham Robbins) and the Hon. Sumner Welles, in memory of Georgiana Welles Sargent, to MFA 1949