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Woman's chemise
Requires Photography
Woman's shift
Woman's chemise
Worn by: Mehetable Stoddard Sumner (Welles) (American, 1784–1826)
French, worn in America
about 1821
Place of Manufacture: Paris, France; Place of Use: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Medium/Technique
Linen plain weave with cotton embroidery
Dimensions
Center front: 104.8 cm (41 1/4 in.)
Center back: 118.7 cm (46 3/4 in.)
Center back: 118.7 cm (46 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Emily Welles Robbins (Mrs. Harry Pelham Robbins) and the Hon. Sumner Welles, in memory of Georgiana Welles Sargent
Accession Number49.896
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionWoman's fine linen shift, deeply scooped neck, short sleeves with raw edges, openwork embroidery and a grapevine pattern around neck, two eyelets inside neckline at center, underarm gussets, brown stains across bottom on center front
InscriptionsWritten in ink on linen tag basted inside at bottom: "Caille [a few small illegible marks] W L"
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