Dress (82.138.2)
Unknown Artist
White muslin "apron-front" dress with low neck, high waist, narrow skirt, and half-length sleeves. Bodice consists of two front pieces meeting at center front and extending over shoulders to meet center back piece, and underarm pieces. Moderately low scooped neckline with drawstring casing all around, tying at center front with narrow linen tape. The front pieces have three darts along the bottom edges, between 2-3" high, the center darts slightly longer than the others. The proper right is constructed in two pieces, with a horizontal piecing seam. Bodice back has higher scooped neckline and narrow back panel. Bodice and sleeves lined in white linen. The lining for the front pieces is attached around armseye but detached at outer edge, becoming flaps across the chest in front. The approximately elbow-length sleeves are loose-fitting, and have large armseyes which extend far into the back bodice, meeting the narrow center back panel. The back seams are lapped.
The skirt consists of a front panel, two side gores, and a back panel. Front of skirt is in "apron front" construction, opening 2" below bodice at side seams, with front skirt panel forming a flap meeting the bodice. The top edge of the muslin is folded down to create a drawstring casing which is 1" at center front diminishing to 1/4" at the sides. Two buttonhole-edged holes at center front. Original drawstring is lost, but would have extended around the back to go through two thread loops located at the back bodice seams at the waistline, and around again to tie in the front. Side gores are slightly gathered to align with underarm seams; back panel is gathered into the width of the back bodice panel.
Provenance Narrative This dress is believed to have belonged to Ann Baily Taylor, whose wedding dress and corset are numbers 82.138.1 and 82.138.4. The corset fits under this dress, supporting this attribution by the donor. Ann Taylor married in 1804 and lived in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Her daughter Sarah married William Chandler.
DAR Museum owns numerous items owned by members of the Chandler/Evans/guest extended family. Search donor name Broecker to locate them.
The dress's plain, sturdy cotton and loose fit of the sleeves suggest it was an everyday dress for work in the home.
Place Made United States PENNSYLVANIA Chester County Probably