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#1673 - c. 1815-20 Hard-to-Find Light Tan/Sage Green Silk Jacquard Evening Gown with Original Convertible Dress Pieces! With Provenance! It is rare to find an early 19th Century gown in great condition with extra pieces and documented provenance. This piece came from the direct descendant of the gown's original owner, Mary Murdock Richards. Mary Murdock of Roxbury, MA was born in 1787. In 1814 Mary married Nathaniel Richards. This may have been the base of Mary's original Wedding gown, then updated in the 1820s. The primary fabric is a patterned silk crepe in a light tan/sage green, an elegant and costly fabric in its day. The puff sleeves are made from a floral patterned silk faille in the same shade. All hand sewn, the workmanship is superb. The square neckline is double piped and the sleeve bands boast 4 rows of corded piping. Typical of high style 1820s dresses, there are 3-dimensional decorative bandings at the bottom of the skirt of braided green and pink silk in three rows bordered by triple rows of horizontal tucks. The effect is charming. The bodice is lined in cotton muslin and fastens in the back with the original steel hook and eyes. There are several brown stains on the gown ranging in size from 1/4-1 1/2" and one tiny tiny hole. There are no rips, tears or dryness to the fabric... still very fluid. Despite the minor staining, the overall condition of this evening gown is exceptional. Mary's gown also has the added bonuses: a collar, two lengths of green and pink ruffled trim (one to be worn around waistline, the other around neckline), a pair of long undersleeves and another pair of short puff sleeves matching the skirt braiding and the extra trim. The long undersleeves were often worn pinned or tied under the puff sleeves either for warmth or for a less formal occasion. The second set of sleeves were for likely worn for a ballgown. And the ruffled trims dress up the gown. Measures a surprisingly decent 32" bust, 25" highwaist, 51" long in front and 54" long in back, 100" hemline. Absolutely one of the best examples of the period.
SOLD - but on display in Museum Category for Research/Study

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