dress

Black watered silk dress consisting of a separate skirt and bodice. Black velvet tassles on sleeves and attached to fastenings down front of bodice. Early 1860s. Probably worn for mourning. Machine and hand stitched.
Bodice - Neck plain round, bound in self-material. Front opening, closed with 13 black hooks and eyes (more modern). Two waist darts each side, to waist band 32mm wide, which comes to a very slight point. Decorated with three pairs of silken and jet tassles. The back is in four pieces with a centre seam. Outer sections bowed. Small dependant watch pocket on left hand side of waistband. Two black waist tapes. Has been widened at side seams. Small piece of black rayon attached (as modern modesty vest).
Sleeves - From deeply-dropped shoulder-line. Narrow and 3/4 length. Epaulettes cover the shoulder seam. Box pleated silk, widely spaced with black velvet ribbon between (reminiscent of Jacobean cut sleeves). Fringed with black velvet tassels , ending in silk bobbles. Cuffs slightly curved away at front and back, with outline of black velvet ribbon.
Skirt - Crinoline. Waistband in self material, 32mm wide. Front opening closed by two hooks and eyes. Flat pleats all round. Pocket in right hand seam. Lined with black silk. 7 lifting tapes - 1 missing at left side.