Name/Title
Cloth FragmentEntry/Object ID
2008.3.1Description
Silk Fragment; c. 1740, Green, Yellow, Burgundy, Pale Pink, and Silver Floral Pattern on Blue Background. Allegedly part of Sarah Fairfax's wedding dress in the late 1740s; current sleeve part of dress as it was remade in the 1790s. First thought to be of English origin, it is now believed to be from Continental Europe (Possibly French).
Stitching on the smaller end of the sleeve indicates that a button was sewn on it at some point. Corresponds with the button hole on 2008.1.1.
Originally bequested to the Homewood House Museum in 1985 by J.R. Herbert Boone, a Carlyle descendant. Identification reads: "Part of a sleeve of the dress worn by the lovely 'Sally' Fairfax at a ball given at Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria, Va., 1748; for General Washington. She married Colonel John Carlyle and lived in Alexandria." Cardboard backing to the frame in April 2000 stamped "J.R. Herbert Boone."
Description from Homewood when loaned to Carlyle House in April 2000: "Textile, sleeve [?], blue plain weave fabric probably silk with jacquard woven floral designs in red, yellow, teal, peach, and tapue; seam lines evident at top and bottom edges; 2 1/4" tear near sleeve opening; (2) tears near bottom edge closest to bodice, one 2 1/2" the other 1'4"; staining at bodice edge of sleeve; framed in early twentieth-century frame along with inked identification of textile with Carlyle arms."
See note about the "jacquard" method in Notes section.