Black and Purple with polka dots 1860's

From the seller:

Wonderful Civil War period party gown dating to the 1860's. Broad off the shoulder decollette, v point gathers into waist band, back hook and eye closure with original hardware, lining in cotton with long front stays. Full skirt with tight cartridge pleating the whole way around at waist and layers of wonderful sheer purple ribbon weave silk in stripe and polka dots. Lined in scarcnet, with wool twill tape floor brush, and a strangely modern aesthetic to the printed gray mottled wool challis fabric, looks like static or ikat. In as found antique condition, with breaks and wear to both underarms, some breaks to the sheer purple silk at hem on both sides and just a few areas of tenderness to the ribbons here and there see images, worthy of conservation efforts. The gray fabric is overall very good. Chest 32" waist 22", length 58". Rare!

I will be listing more from this Vermont museum deaccession plus other early things from Boston area estate.

From Me:

Most likely a redone dress from the 1850's, remade into the latest style at the end of the Civil War. The flounces are more typical of the 1850's (thought they did exist in the 1860s) and the gathered front indicated the bodice once, most likely, had a point, making it 1850's originally. However, the way it's been restyled is very typical of the mid 1860's, putting this as a party dress for once the boys returned home.