Dress, Wedding

Object Name:

Dress, Wedding

Object ID:

1997.010

Date:

1887

Description:

Wedding outfit worn by Annie Bartlett Shepard of East Derry, NH, 1887; silk faille with embroidered twill trim, silk twill lining: matching silk skirt (.1) and bodice (.2); additional net bodice with bows (.3a-.3c); and veil (.4).
.1 Skirt. Cream color silk, matches bodice. Floor length with long train. Panel of fine-mesh net inset in skirt front, decorated with vertical stripes and floral embroidery. Lace along bottom edge of entire skirt. Back of skirt ties up around large padded bustle. Waistband has two sets of hook and eye closure in back, which is covered by bustle. Fully lined with tan linen muslin.
.2 Bodice. Cream color silk, matches skirt. Fully fitted (11 stays) with v-neck, long fitted sleeves, and v-waist (front and back). Slight puff at shoulders. Embroidered mesh net (matches .1) set diagonally across bodice front, and ends in a cluster. Back closure with 22 sets of eyelets and a silk cord that laces through; baleen rods along both sides of closure. Bodice fully lined in tan.
.3 Bodice with bows.
A. Bodice. Net lined with plain weave silk, all cream color. Short linen lace sleeves and velvet spaghetti straps. Puff shoulders. Silk floral fringe on collar and sleeves. Belt of net and bows of silk ribbon attached to shirred section of front, and fasten in back. Loose fitting, with 9 stays. Back hook and eye closure.
B. Bow. Silk taffeta ribbon. Pinned to two lengths of matching ribbon. Matches bows on bodice.
C. Bow. Silk taffeta ribbon. Matches bows on bodice.
.4 Veil. Cream color net linen tulle.

Material:

Textile
Silk

Provenance:

Worn by donor's grandmother, Annie Bartlett, at her wedding to Frederick Johnson Shepard, 1887, Derry, NH (grandparents of astronaut Alan Shepard).

Credit Line:

Gift of Ann Shepard Bullis

People:

Shepard, Annie Bartlett (1861-1944)