Thursday, December 27, 2012

Mid 1860's Beautiful Dress











From the seller:

This auction is for an amazing original lady's Reception Dress from the 1860s. From the last year of the Civil War, its fabric is a sumptuous silk moire. The dress is trimmed with miles of handmade torchon lace. The lace forms a collar with long dangling lappets at the rear. This trend was most pronounced in 1865/66, but continued to about 1868 with the advent of the bustle. The wonderful belt is my favorite part! It consists of a lace trimmed waistband, a rich self fabric rosette and two very wide and long sash ends, also lace trimmed. Fasteners are hooks and eyes under the rosette. The sleeves are constructed with self fabric petals at the tops. These are trimmed with lace and accented with clear glass dangles. The same bobbles that trim the sleeves also trim the front of the bodice. They are original, but non functioning. The bodice closes with hooks and eyelets. The armholes are piped. White muslin lines the dress entirely. The hem is finished with gray wool hem tape. It's skirt has a fantastic elegant sweep with deep pleats on the hips and on the back breadths. It closes at left front. A pocket rests in the right side seam and a watch pocket hides in the left front waistband.

Condition is structurally good. It displays beautifully. There is obvious age and light related color change. It's fairly even, so not distracting. The original color can be seen on the inside bodice and hinted at inside the pleats. I tried to get the skirt as large as possible and still it wasn't apparent on the outside. See above for further details. I have shown the dress displayed with an original brooch not included in this auction.

There have been no conservation techniques applied to this dress, except a small stabilization to a tear on the lower right rear of the skirt which is pictured..

Measurements are: The bust is 34 inches & the waist measure 26 inches. The skirt sweep is one of the largest I've ever seen: 205 inches!



From Me:

Look at that belt detail! I think I know a couple of people that need to recreate this dress....

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