#7026 $1,400 Reserved
Child's 3-piece embroidered silk dress, c.1865
Very fine children's clothing from the Civil War period is difficult to find. This rare hand-embroidered dress is a special treat for the serious collector.
The ivory silk faille dress consists of a bodice, a jacket, and a skirt that buttons to the bodice. The skirt and jacket have wonderful hand-embroidered butterflies rendered in blue silk floss chain stitch. Black French knots decorate the butterflies' wings; the eyes are black beads (2nd from bottom picture.) The scalloped border is appliquéd braided trim.
The outfit is extremely well made and was certainly very expensive when new. The seams of the bodice are piped with blue corded silk that matches the embroidery. The bodice is lined with ivory cotton and closes in back with blue silk faille buttons.
The skirt has a pocket hidden under one of the decorative flaps. The skirt is lined with ivory polished cotton. The bolero jacket is lined with ivory China silk and has interfacing in front for stiffness. The jacket sleeves have pleated silk-ribbon ruffles on the inside. The edges are outlined with corded blue silk piping.
The outfit was obviously for a much loved little princess, whose parents had the money to spoil their little darling. The dress is as stylish today as it was in 1865. You can be both cute and chic, whether you are 8 or 28.
Provenance: the dress comes with an attached note that reads "Given to us by Jean Waters Moore. Belonged to her mother, Alice Macklin Waters." The name on the card is Mrs. Carlton W. Bristol.
The condition is almost excellent. There are a few minor imperfections. There is no structural damage. One of the decorative pierced mother-of-pearl buttons on the waistband is missing. Unfortunately, I did not have in my stash a button that matches. The only other problem: a few tiny age spots.
The bodice measures: 24" chest, 20" waist, 10" sleeve length, and 10 1/2" from
shoulder to waist.
The skirt is 15" long, including the waistband.
The bolero is 10 1/2" long at the center-back
