Wedding Dress

Clothing/Dress/Costume

-

Wayland Museum

Name/Title

Wedding Dress

Entry/Object ID

C384

Description

Cream - two piece - skirt gathered around waist with large pocket and small watch pocket - hand sewn - waist band was pinned - lined hemline - top-short sleeves - scoop neckline - hooks and eyes in back - bonded top covered in pattern net - smocked on edge.

Context

Nell Steven's mother's wedding dress. Two pairs of shoes: White satin #C705 and #C706 C705 - DEACCESSION C706 - DEACCESSION

Collection

Costume Collection

Category

Wedding Dress

Clothing/Dress/Costume Details

Article of Clothing/Dress/Costume

Dress

Clothing Sex

Female

Textile Details

Fabric

Silk, Satin

Material

Net

Lining

Linen

Color

Cream

Notes

Silk satin and net. Lined in linen

Article of Clothing/Dress/Costume

Shoes

Notes

Two pairs of shoes: White satin #C705 and #C706. Labels: Thierry and Sons London, Este-Paris. Shoes soiled.

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1847

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Date Examined

Apr 1, 2019

Examined By

Collection Committee

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Stevens, Nell

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

This matching cream satin ensemble represents the wedding attire of Nell Stevens' parents, married in 1847. The coordinated bride and groom garments reflect mid-19th century Massachusetts wedding traditions, when cream and off-white fabrics were popular alternatives to colored wedding dresses. The 1847 date places this wedding during a period of significant change in Wayland—the town had been renamed from East Sudbury just twelve years earlier in 1835.