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Materials: Two piece wedding dress
of cream China silk, embroidered net lace, bobbin lace, white muslin and bobbin lace
skirt lining, brass hooks and eyes, ten 9" metal waist stays. Long petticoat, pantaloons, camisole
and nightgown of fine white cotton, bobbin lace, silk ribbons and cotton embroidery.
Bridal accessories including wedding hankie, long white kid gloves, silk
tulle veil, crochet change purse and spray of blue cloth flowers. Also
including two photographs of the bride; two printed wedding invitations and two
letters to the bride dated 1914; one small leather suitcase with
initials "JVH".
Provenance: All of these items are
from the wedding of Ada Masker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas James
Berrien, to Joseph Francis Shaw. Ada and Joseph were wed in Long
Branch, New Jersey on June 27, 1906. After their marriage the Shaws
lived and raised a family at 235 South Fourth Street in Sunbury,
Pennsylvania.
Condition: Wedding dress and
under clothes are in excellent to perfect condition. Very slight
browning at the top of the high neck collar on wedding gown and faint
underarm stains; otherwise perfect. Under clothes perfect except for
some missing ribbons (two of these pieces were recently laundered, and
are whiter than other two). Kid gloves very dingy; silk tulle veil
fragile; photographs and all ephemera in excellent condition.
Measurements: Wedding Gown Blouse: Sh-Sh, 14.5"; W, 24.5"; L, 15.5"; Slv L, 17".
Wedding Gown Skirt: W, 22.5"; L, 41"; Hem C, 153".
Comments: The most remarkable
feature on the soft China silk wedding gown is the shirred and boned waist; it is
a full ten inches deep! The gown is stylish and good quality for it's
time, although not high fashion. From the quality of the clothing
and clues in two personal letters to Ada dated 1914 (included in sale),
Ada and Joseph Shaw were ordinary, hard working Americans. This is a
rare opportunity to acquire a complete early 20th century wedding
trousseau from a typical middle class American bride.
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