Created by
Unidentified
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1910s - 1920s
Medium
cotton, synthetic ribbon, bobbin lace, and machine lace
Dimensions
Length: (top to hem) 22 1/2 in (57.2 cm)
Width: 27 1/2 in. 69.9 cm)
Description
A white cotton undergarment with pink ribbon and lace. This undergarment possibly used to be a woman’s slip that has been cut into a child’s underdress. Bobbin lace with pink synthetic ribbon has been machine stitched along the top of the garment. The dress is composed of five panels of plain weave cotton - three in the front and two side panels that are seamed together at the center back. There are two machine-stitched darts on the dress – one on either side panel. All the panels, front and back, are sewn to a 1” band of decorative cutwork with eyelet flowers and overcast bars. A pink ribbon made from synthetic material is woven through the cutwork band and is tied in a knot at the center front. Below the band of decorative cutwork are alternating panels of plain weave cotton with pintucks, floral machine lace, and embroidered flowers with cutwork inside the flower. Machine stitched below the alternating panels is another row of bobbin lace that has a pink synthetic ribbon woven through it. The hem of the undergarment features a 4.5" panel of floral machine lace. The two center panels at the back of the skirt have been partially machine stitched together and partially handstitched together. The back construction of the garment mirror’s the front, except there is no alternating panels of plain weave cotton with pintucks, floral machine lace, and embroidered flowers in between the two rows of woven pink ribbon. Two white cotton ribbons are handstitched to the top interior of the dress – one on each side. There is also excess fabric all around the interior top, where the dress was potentially cut from a woman’s slip. The edges have been left raw. The interior of the dress is unlined.
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
underdresses
undergarments
Topic
Clothing and dress
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Object number
2007.3.644
Restrictions & Rights
No known copyright restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd56b68dc4f-e50d-4c29-8d91-ec7bc7e155d2

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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