Gown

Date1750-1775

MediumGold silk satin, trimmed with silk and silver metallic ribbons; bodice and sleeves lined with linen; skirt hem faced with green silk tabby.

DimensionsOL: 41" Waist approximately 14 3/4". Textile width between selvages 28 3/4". Skirt length 30 1/2" (at center front) to 33" (sides). Skirt circumference 85 1/2". Ribbons are 1 3/8" wide. Sleeves B & C: OL: 5 1/2" plus 9 3/4" ribbon ties. Tie ribbon is 3/4" wide; decorative ribbon 1 3/8" wide.

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Cora Ginsburg

Object number1991-551,1A-C

DescriptionInfant's long gown of plain gold silk satin. Gown bodice, cut from three pieces, is sleeveless and has a low rounded neckline and cone-shaped bodice dipping down below the waist. Separate removable sleeves (B & C) are each cut in one piece, seamed at the inner arm, and shaped with a dart from outer elbow to wrist to angle over the elbows. Sleeves were tied to the bodice straps with a single decorative checkered silk ribbon stitched to the top of each sleeve. Wider ribbon bows are positioned at sleeve inner elbows. These ribbons are patterned with silver metallic threads and silk in floral trellis, and are the same pattern as the ribbons at the back bodice. Long skirt is pleated to bodice. Skirt shows stitch marks where trimming was once sewn, but is now missing. Back of gown has center-back closure open approximately 15" down from neckline, and tied closed with three patterned silk and metallic ribbons sewn into the bodice lining. Narrow bones or unknown stiffenings are sewn into center-back opening. Bodice is partially interlined in the front bodice with unknown fabric stiffening. Bodice and sleeves are lined with fine white plain-woven linen; skirt is unlined, but faced with green plain-woven silk 9 1/2" up from hem. Gown came with matching cap, #2.
Silk satin selvages are striped with red and green.
Label TextThis gown has separate sleeves tied to the shoulder straps with ribbon, a fashion that persisted into the early nineteenth century. The torso is shaped for a child in stays. The gown came with a matching lace-trimmed cap.