Child's dress
Object name
Date made
1860s
Place made
Description
A circa 1860s child's white cotton dress with brown and white cord stitched in a design down the centre, along the hem, and on the sleeves.
Content description
A child's long sleeved, white piqué cotton dress from the 1860s. The dress has brown and white corded cotton trim reminiscent of soutache, couched down in a swirling, symmetrical design along the hem and on the sleeves and down the centre. Soutache trim was very popular in adult and children's clothing of the 1860s. There is an apron-like panel in the middle that is tacked to the dress at the corners. It runs almost the entire length of the dress. Down the centre of this panel are small chain stitched swirls, evenly spaced as if to resemble buttons. Broderie anglaise adorns the edges of this apron-like panel, as well as the cuffs and collar. The back of dress is closed with two hand-sewn brass hooks. The seams and hems are machine-stitched, while the embellishments are hand-stitched.
This dress would have been worn by a young child. Dresses of this kind were worn by both girls and boys in this period and mirrored contemporary fashions worn by women. The fact that this dress closes at the back instead of up the centre front suggests it was made for a girl rather than a boy.
This dress would have been worn by a young child. Dresses of this kind were worn by both girls and boys in this period and mirrored contemporary fashions worn by women. The fact that this dress closes at the back instead of up the centre front suggests it was made for a girl rather than a boy.
Dimensions
width: 66cm
length: 56cm
length: 56cm
Materials
Stitches
Catalogue number
COL.62
Other numbers
RSN 948
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