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Woman's day dress
American
late 1850s
Object Place: United States
Medium/Technique
Silk plain weave (taffeta), with supplementary-weft patterning (à la disposition) and silk net
Dimensions
Bodice: 46.3 cm (18 1/4 in.); skirt: 101 cm (39 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Harriet Ropes Cabot and Edward Jackson Lowell Ropes
Accession Number50.476a-b
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAmericas, Fashion and Textiles
ClassificationsCostumes
DescriptionA dress in two parts, of light grayish green taffeta; (a) bodice fitted and boned, coming to deep point center front and back, elbow length bell shaped sleeves, hooked down center front, trimmed with bands of geometric motifs brocaded with red, white, and green silk on a sheer black silk ground, (woven in one with the gray-green taffeta as can be seen on the skirt ruffles), tabs to increase dimension of bodice, trimmed with brocaded black ribbon which has been added in center front, and similar ribbons combined with black net have been added at elbow of sleeves; (b) skirt very full with fullness pleated to waistband except at center back where it is gathered, three deep gathered flounces of the brocade on sheer black silk as described above around skirt; bodice lined with glazed white cotton, skirt lined with crinoline. Said to have been worn by the Parker ladies.
ProvenanceGift to the MFA, 1950