Dress

Object/Artifact

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Dress

Entry/Object ID

1994.13.1

Description

Two-piece ivory wool dress with inset silk chiffon panel in the front. Decorated with ruched silk satin ivory ribbon trim on the bodice and across the skirt. The long sleeves with have similar ribbon trim as does the high standing collar, which is covered with six rows of ribbon. Wide silk satin sash at the waist. The skirt closes at the back with five double mother-of-pearl buttons attached to each other with cord loops.

Made/Created

Date made

1897

Material

Wool, Silk

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

The new Mrs. Oliver F. Boothby was married in this cream wool gown trimmed with extravagant crisscrossing rows of ruched silk satin ribbons. Maud was about twenty and her new husband was a farmer in Saco, but this dress could make any young bride feel like a queen. It is all in shades of cream, yet is also a lovely example of how the interplay of textures can make for an elaborate effect. The flowing matte wool, light-reflecting silk gathered up tightly for surface richness, and delicate figured chiffon create a visual feast.