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Materials: Lilac silk taffeta two piece dress, gray silk
braid trim, embroidered organdy, brass and metal hooks and eyes, linen
muslin bodice lining, three stays, dark brown polished cotton hem
facing.
Provenance: This dress came from
the personal collection of an important American collector. She
collected American and European clothing during the decades of the 1940s
through 1980s.
Condition: Excellent. Very minor
problems: skirt's silk waistband replaced; skirt color slightly grayer
than bodice; bodice taken in (two small tucks at back sides); one tiny
hole on underside of right bell sleeve; original chemisette has couple
small tears. Silk taffeta in wonderful condition.
Measurements: B, 34"; W,
23"; Slv L, 19"; Bodice L, 15.5"; Skirt L, 44"; Hem
C, 124".
Comments: It is unusual to find an
1850s day dress with its original chemisette still basted into the
bodice. It is a fine hand embroidered muslin chemisette with a double
ruffle. Under sleeves shown are not original to dress nor included in
sale. The scalloped and pierced taffeta flounces are characteristic of
the 1850s sensibility of restrained embellishment. The overall effect of
this silk day dress is both youthful and delightful.
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