KC1975-983
Shown: 1975-340,1-3 and 1975-340,4A&B

Petticoat

Dateca. 1750 (textile); ca. 1770 (gown remodeled)

OriginAmerica, Virginia (petticoat) and England (textile)

MediumSilk brocaded

DimensionsL: 36 1/2"

Credit LineGift of Mrs. R. Keith Kane and daughters: Mrs. James H. Scott, Jr., Mrs. Timothy Childs, Mrs. N., Beverly Tucker, Jr., and Mrs. Lockhart B. McGuire.

Object number1975-340,2

DescriptionWoman's petticoat of ivory silk lustring( taffeta) with brocaded floral bouquets (in reds, rose, purple, blues, yellow, greens) entertwined with ivory weft-float pattern of trailing vine and purple cone-like flowers. The petticoat has fringe-trimmed ruching around bottom edge and decorating front section.
Label TextGown and Petticoat
Spitalfields, England, textile, gown worn in Virginia by Elizabeth Dandridge Aylett Henley, silk textile ca. 1750, remodeled ca. 1770
Silk brocaded with silk, bodice lined with linen, trimmings padded with cotton
G1975-340, 1-2, gift of Mrs. R. Keith Kane and daughters, Mrs. James H. Scott, Jr., Mrs. Lockhart B. McGuire, Mrs. Timothy W. Childs, and Mrs. N. Beverly Tucker, Jr.

Family tradition states that Martha Washington's sister, Elizabeth, wore this graceful sack-back gown and matching petticoat. Elizabeth subsequently willed it to her daughter-in-law to be cut up and used as furniture coverings. Fortunately, the gown never suffered that fate and was passed down intact.

As with many gowns of expensive imported silk, this gown was remodeled about 20 years after it was first made. Textiles were too valued to throw away when the gown became old-fashioned. It is conceivable that these alterations were done because imported silks were being targeted as prohibited imports during the events leading up to the Revolutionary War. It might have been considered patriotic to remake an old gown, rather than import new English silk.

ProvenanceFamily tradition states that this garment (as well as G1975-341, slippers) belonged originally to Elizabeth Dandridge (b. 1749) She was married twice: 1773, at 24, and 1779, at 30 yrs. of age. Henley was her second husband and the items descended in the Dandridge-Henley-Kane families. She was sister to Martha Washington.