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DEACESSIONED June 26, 2014
Woman's skirt
Worn by: Mehetable Stoddard Sumner (Welles) (American, 1784–1826)
American
about 1815–20
Place of Use: Boston, Massachusetts, United States; Place of Manufacture: probably Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Medium/Technique
Silk patterned with warp and weft floats, silk satin
Dimensions
Overall: 118.1 cm (46 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Emily Welles Robbins (Mrs. Harry Pelham Robbins) and the Hon. Sumner Welles, in memory of Georgiana Welles Sargent
Accession Number49.883
CollectionsAmericas, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionWoman's skirt (possible fragment of a dress), pink silk with small overall geometric pattern, unfinished edge at waist, two wide satin bands across bottom with curves and peaks, single padded welt in satin along hem
InscriptionsWritten in ink on fabric label sewn inside at waist: "Empire skirt worn probably with spencer, white or colored, by Mehetable Stoddard Sumner b. 1784 daughter of Increase Sumner Governor of Massachusetts. She [married] Benjamin Welles of Boston August 1st 1815 died 1826 Period 1815-20"
ProvenanceWorn by Mehetable Stoddard Sumner (Mrs. Benjamin Welles), Boston, MA (b. 1784 - d. 1826); 1826, given by descent to her granddaughter Miss Georgiana Welles Sargent, New York, NY (b. 1858); 1949, gift of Emily Welles Robbins (Mrs. Harry Pelham Robbins) and the Hon. Sumner Welles, in memory of Georgiana Welles Sargent to the MFA (Accession date: September 15, 1949); June 25, 2014, deaccessioned by the MFA for sale through Augusta Auctions, Bellows Falls, VT.