#0182    Bustle Dress    c. 1885 

United States, NJ

Materials: Cotton Saten, Swiss embroidered eyelet, cotton twill and cotton muslin linings, whalebone stays, 16 paperweight glass buttons (swirled with green goldstone), 3 vegetable plastic buttons.

Provenance: This dress has been in my collection for 20+ years. It has been featured in two museum exhibits with the past decade.

Condition: Excellent. Alterations: Jacket has been let out on sides, bustles regathered. Four of original eight whalebone stays missing. Swiss eyelet embroidery and outer fabric in nearly perfect condition. There is a 1 1/2" hole in the edge of the eyelet hem ruffle, and a pea sized stain in the pleated front skirt drapery. Collar lining is frayed.

Measurements: Jacket: B, 40"; Sh- Sh, 10 1/2"; W, 29"; Slv L, 22". Skirt: W, 24"; L, 39"; Hem C, 84".

 Comments: Materials and workmanship on this mid 1880's visiting dress are beautiful. The glass buttons are valued at approximately $20.00 a piece. The effect of the Swiss embroidered eyelet is sculptural. At the skirt hem there are 3 rows of flounces. The outer layer is an embroidered sateen, next a knife pleated burgundy and finally a knife pleated cocoa brown. The large bustle, short jacket and a symmetrical draping dates this magnificent dress to the mid 1880's.