Name/Title
Young woman's black lace and taffeta altered gown, c. 1900Entry/Object ID
2021.71.2Description
Acc. No. 21.71.2 A, B
Subject Category: Citizens of Alameda / Homes of Alameda
Date or Period: c. 1900
Object: dress, 2-piece
Description: 2-piece dress of bodice (A) and skirt (B) of black lace and taffeta. Appears to have been for a small or young (teenaged) woman, partially machine sewn and partially by hand. Bodice has standing lace collar, front closure of taffeta covered buttons, and inside hook-and-eye closure at the waist. It has ruching gathered at the waist in the back, puff sleeves gathered at the wrist, with a flounce of lace at the wrists and waist. Has two different kind of boning, possibly a repair. Hand-hemmed, partially machine sewn, partially by hand. Lace on the skirt (B) has been draped apparently asymmetrically, (possibly a gathering stitch has broken) has both a taffeta and lace flounce, hook-and-eye closure, and bustle of gathered lace. it has one pocket in the taffeta on the right. Interlining of brown cotton.
History of Object: found in the attic of 2153-2155 Central, and donated to the museum in 2016. The dress may have been altered from an adult-size dress which would explain the hand-sewn areas and repairs. If worn by a Powell family member it would have been Alma B (b. Dec. 1892), but possibly it was from another family altogether. The house was originally built in 1892, by Brehaut & Diamond, architect Charles S. Shaner, for John W. Powell, and is still standing.
Acquired from: Marily Wire,
2155 Central Ave,
510-775-5927
Donated: 2016
Catalog Date: 7/28/2021
