Sewing Case Made from Martha Washington's Gowns

Dateca. 1800; materials earlier

Worn by Martha Custis Dandridge Washington (1731 - 1802)

OriginAmerica (sewing case) and Europe or Great Britain (textiles)

MediumSilk, linen, paperboard, wool, steel

DimensionsW: 4"; L(folded): 4"; (unfolded): 10"

Credit LineGift of Anonymous Donors

Object number1971-1419

DescriptionFolding sewing case. Exterior is covered with polychrome brocaded flowers on blue silk ground, edged with polychrome silk gimp fringe. Inside are 2 double partitioned side pockets. One partition lining consists of a blue-ground textile striped with silk warp floats in salmon and green; another lining consists of a silk and linen textile striped with brown and pink. The center section of the case is covered with pink silk plaid taffeta with an indentation for a thimble in the middle. Wool fiber stuffing. Contains a double headed pin and a rusty needle with a grooved eye.
Label TextA paper label states that this sewing case was made from pieces of Martha Washington's dresses. Although it is difficult to assign an accurate time period to such small fragments, the silks appear to date from about 1760 to 1800.
ProvenanceEx coll: Tomlinson, D.C. Cohen. Attached tag states that this was made from dresses worn by Martha Washington while in the White House (1789-1797).