Woman's 2-piece dress of bright bluish green taffeta, with jewel neckline, sloped/dropped shoulders, and long curved, tapered "banana" sleeves on bodice (.203a); cream colored lace ruff on each sleeve; silk cord braid and self fabric ruching with pinked edges applied in V-shape on chest, around bottom of each sleeve, and around each shoulder seam; fitted to waist with wood or bone stays on front darts, and V-shaped seams on back; front opening with 7 (should be 8) button closure - covered wooden buttons, with upper 4 (probably original) roughly acorn-shaped, covered with green ribbed silk; lower 3 are crudely made replacements, covered with self fabric; glazed brown cotton lining on bodice, with unglazed of same lining on sleeves; long, gored skirt (.203b), gathered in with tight pleats under and around waistband, especially at center back; upper right front opening, with hook & eye closure on waistband; 1 hidden side seam pocket on front; brown/tan cotton lining; green wool tape binding around bottom edge. Dated ca. 1860s by previous curator. Dimensions for .203b below (width taken across bottom); .203a measures 16 3/4 x 14 1/2 inches (height measurement does not include sleeves; width taken at fastened waist).
