Wedding Gown

Clothing/Dress/Costume

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Historic Germantown

Name/Title

Wedding Gown

Entry/Object ID

CW 784 a-b

Description

Wedding Ensemble. Wedding dress, including a bodice (CW 784 a) and skirt (CW 784 b). Off-white silk with light and dark gray print in flower and ribbon design. Wedding dress was worn by Florence Sorber (1869-1960) at her marriage to William Walton Clarke (1867-1938), June 14, 1893. Florence Sorber was the donor's grandmother. Excellent condition. 1893. CW 784 a) Bodice: Fitted bodice with stiff high collar; fitted sleeves with full puff on upper arm. Pleated fabric center front. Side front hook and eye opening; lace lapels reach to waist center front and center back. Silver bead trim at yoke line and sleeve hem. Bust pads. Dimensions: CW 784 a (Bodice): Length at center back: 20 1/4 inches; Waist: 24 1/2 inches with a 2 inch overlap. CW 784 b) Skirt. Circular-cut skirt; bias-cut ruffle at knee in scalloped line at hem. Fully lined and stiffened to knee; Velvet hem binding across front. Dimensions: CW 784 b (Skirt): Length at center front: 39 1/4 inches; Length at center back 41 inches; Waist 25 1/2 inches. Transcribed from original accession record.

Collection

Germantown Historical Society Objects

Made/Created

Place

* Untyped Place

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dimensions

Dimension Notes

Details: CW 784 a (Bodice): Length at center back: 20 1/4 inches; Waist: 24 1/2 inches with a 2 inch overlap. CW 784 b (Skirt): Length at center front: 39 1/4 inches; Length at center back 41 inches; Waist 25 1/2 inches.

Provenance

Notes

Wedding dress was worn by Florence Sorber (1869-1960) at her marriage to William Walton Clarke (1867-1938), June 14, 1893 (officiated by the Rev. Dr. Newkirk of Bethesda Church). Florence Sorber was the donor's grandmother. Bride's Parents; Thomas Hatcher Sorber (1837-1902) Ann Armstrong (1837-1912) Married August 11, 1862. Groom's parents; John Stubbs Clarke (1840-1917) Emily Butler Slaight (1837-1908) Married June 19, 1861 Photos of the bride's father, Thomas Hatcher Sorber (1837-1902), and the bride, Florence Sorber Clarke (1869-1960), that accompanied the wedding gown are housed in the GHS Archives.