Dress
PeriodCirca 1830 - 1835
Place MadeNew Jersey, U.S.A.
MediumPrinted cotton, linen
Dimensions51 in. (129.5 cm)
ClassificationsCostume, Women's
Credit LineMuseum Collection
Object number1998.577
DescriptionA woman's work dress, in off white cotton printed with small red, brown, and blue floral vine sprigs. The gown includes a rounded neckline, front opening closed with pins, ruched and piped shoulder seams with slightly dropped arm scyes, gathered upper arm panels, and shaped sleeves ending in slitted wrist hems. The gown has attached waist ties which fasten in front, keeping the gown closed. At the back, the skirts are cartridge pleated and form a slight fullness. The hem is lined with 3 1/2 inch linen facing with the unfinished raw edge inside. An attached bodice lining of off-white linen can be closed with pins to fasten. A single casing is sewn to the inside center back seam for a stay, now missing.Curatorial RemarksThis cotton gown's construction indicates its use as a casual in-house work dress and may even have been worn as a maternity gown. The construction is quite simple, and is more of a glorified wrapper or robe and would never have been worn out in public. The garment includes no buttons or hooks and eyes and was instead fastened with straight pins to keep it closed. An examination of the dress reveals its extensive use as a working garment. The sleeves in particular show serious wear. The fabric itself is discolored and worn thin with fraying and tears around the wrist edge. The gown also shows the maker's basting stitches especially along the front yoke gathers. This cotton dress is a rare survivor, as it was special occasion dresses that were more often saved. Although the garment's original accession information was lost or was not given, it appears to be related to several work garments of roughly the same time period.
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