1860s Silk Moire Victorian Antique Dress Civil War Era Study or Display Piece


From the Seller
1860s Silk Moire Victorian Antique Dress Civil War Era Study or Display Piece.

Stunning silk moire brown & black changeable silk fabric bodice & skirt set. It is missing all of the buttons and the silk is very delicate so I would recommend this only for display or study. Silk is splitting in some areas but overall strong enough for display

From the Industrious Lady

Guys!!! Its a laundry tag!! Many period sewing books, laundry books, and other original sources mention that laundry which was hired out was assigned a tag to keep an item from accidentally walking off or being given to the wrong customer. Army laundresses were recorded as having books that had the name and information that corresponded with a number on a tag. This tag was sewn into the garment itself and would have to be rewritten as it faded from sweat and being rubbed against the body. Whoever owned this did not have the time to do her laundry, and was fortunate enough to have the resources to hire her washing out. 

Another interesting observation about this dress is the split back piece. While unusual, Moire silk sich as this was very, very expensive.  A yard could cost $20+ in a world where the average worker made around 20 cents a day. Most likely to save on material, the maker cut the two halves from wherever they could, thus saving on material. Hard to believe such a beautiful and impractical dress would have such practical nuances added to it.

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