CIRCA 1863-1865 DEEP LILAC AND WHITE TRANSLUCENT SILK TAFFETA DRESS

CIRCA 1863-1865 DEEP LILAC AND WHITE TRANSLUCENT SILK TAFFETA DRESS

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$750.00

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Item Code: 1307-41

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1863-1865 deep lilac and white translucent silk taffeta dress with lilac sash and bows, probably for a petite young lady, from the Texas Civil War Museum.

The bodice ‘tis a puzzlement. The initial impression from the right side is a darted bodice with a center back closing and a V-neckline. An examination of the inside raises new questions. The bodice initially had a neckline at the base of the neck. It was slashed down the center front and the raw edges turned back to create the V-neckline. The bodice also has two linings: a flat lining cut to match the outside fabric, and an inner lining that is the recycled lining from a low body dress. The two linings are treated as a single layer except at the top of the bodice, where the finished edge of the neckline of the low lining is open and loose inside the bodice. The bodice closes with hooks-and-eyes and a single baleen stay at the center front is still present. The sleeves are open coat sleeves, cut with a curve at the bottom, and ending mid-lower arm. The bodice and sleeves are trimmed with a pinked ruche of lilac silk taffeta. The lilac color has faded on the front of the bodice from the original deep, intense shade found on unexposed areas inside the bodice.

The skirt, cut to be worn over an asymmetrical steel crinoline, is styled with single box pleats in the front and stacked triple box pleats in the back. The skirt is trimmed has three rows of trimming set in large scallops. The top and bottom rows are bias bands of the plaid silk with narrow rolled hems on both edges that are set in spaced box pleats. The middle row is a bias band of lilac silk taffeta with scalloped edges that have been pinked with a punch; the trimming is set on the skirt with randomly spaced and formed pleats. Lilac bows with multiple loops accent the peaks of the scallops. The skirt is lined with sheer silk organza, and finished with a ¼" hem.


The sash is a length of lilac silk taffeta, with scalloped pinking on the edges. It has been pleated down to 2" wide in the center, and shows evidence of being looped to secure it at the waist. There is a loose multi-looped bow that may have been pinned to the sash or somewhere else on the dress.

Condition: Good to Very Good. Fading on the front of the bodice and sleeves, probably from display.   [cs][ph:L]

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