Dress
PeriodCirca 1835
MediumPrinted linen/cotton blend
Dimensions54 in. (137.2 cm)
ClassificationsCostume, Women's
Credit LineGift of Henry Acken Meeker, 1948
Object number3267
DescriptionA woman's printed linen/cotton work dress, in a brown and red geometric repeat pattern, constructed as one piece, with front closure of hooks and eyes, gathered loose-fitting front bodice, round neck with wide attached collar, and loose-fitting back gathered into numerous cartridge pleats along waistband. The gown's long sleeves are full and gathered along the upper armscye, tapering to a close-fitting wrist with hook and thread loop closures. The gown also includes a large, deep pocket sewn at the proper right hip, made of sturdy off-white linen/cotton fabric. The bodice has a partial lining of off-white linen sewn along the sides only, following the underarm seam and extending to the inner waistband.Curatorial RemarksThis gown is a fine example of a gown made for everyday or work wear. The simple and sturdy fabric appears to be a linen and cotton blend, printed in brown and red on a white ground, in a small repeat of block, cross, and diamond. The construction is deliberately loose-fitting, with the bodice unlined except for small panels along the wearer's sides. The gown's front is held closed by hooks and eyes along the top yoke and at the front waistband. There are no channels for boning and no inner support. The sleeves are also relatively loose-fitting, easily rolled up when the hook and thread loop closures are undone. The gown is worn, with fading along all those areas which the wearer might have leaned up against a washtub or kitchen table. The gown also includes an attached large collar instead of the more popular separate fichu or small capelet.NotesThis gown entered the collection along with two other dresses, both plaid silk taffeta day dresses worn by German immigrant Katherina Becker Meckes (1849-1927). The silk gowns date to the very late 1850s or early 1860s and were both worn by Katherina. This gown, however, dates at least twenty years earlier. The original owner and wearer of this work gown is currently unknown.
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