Men's Slippers, about 1858

Undress or negligee dress was the term given to casual, loose-fitting clothing worn in the morning before changing in to fashionable day dress. Men's embroidered slippers (bright-colored worsted work on canvas) were very popular in the early Victorian period. Ladies magazines often included embroidery patterns for house slippers that a woman mightmake for her husband as a gift. Please note that the term Berlin Work or Berlin Woolwork comes from the fact that the best embroidery patterns came fro…

Women's Slippers, about 1800

This style toe was popular in the very late 18th - early 19th century. While these are called slippers, they were actually fairly fashionable shoes. The heel on this pair is very fashionable. The handwork suggests that these were custom made.

Corset, 1838-1840

The donor indicated that this was worn by Betsy Ann Cowles Palmer for her wedding sometime between 1838 and 1840. Its styling is that of a wedding or trousseau corset-- lovely and decorative with fancy embroidery. Torso proportions are appropriate for the 1840s, and metal eyelets were not used until this time.Betsy Ann Cowles Palmer was born in 1822. In 1839, she married Charles Henry Palmer, a pioneer investor and developer of mines and railroads in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Palmer's had …

Girl's Embroidered Cotton Dress, 1840-1850

White cotton dress with wide, collar-less neck and slightly belled sleeves. Bodice and skirt gathered; tight gauging along center-front and center-back waist. Empty whalebone casing at center-front. Self-fabric piping at neck, waist and sleeves. White embroidery at hem; hem and cuffs finished with irregular scalloping and crochet trim. Two tucks on skirt. Bodice lined with plain-weave cotton; sleeves and skirt unlined. Bodice open at center-back; hammered-wire hook and eye closures. Hand-sewn. T…

Men's Slippers, 1830-1860

"Undies", or casual morning wear to be worn at home, could be quite decorative and fancy in the 19th century. Loose fitting sacques or morning dress for women could be quite elaborate, including elegant footwear. Men, too, enjoyed robes and slippers that could be quite elaborate. Berlin work patterns for slippers were exceedingly popular circa 1850. These slippers are both expensive and quite elaborate for a middle-class man around 1850. They appear little worn. Benjamin Wheeler was, according t…

Embroidered Pink Silk Taffeta Girl's Dress, about 1905

Pink silk taffeta dress with flowers embroidered in silk on yoke, sleeve cuffs and skirt. High neck, with ruffled lace forming stand collar. Long set-in sleeves with turnover cuffs. Yoke and drop waist with rather crude hand smocking. Short pleated skirt. Center-back opening with four mother-of-pearl buttons. Machine-sewn, but gathering on bodice is done by large hand-stitching. Some top-stitching executed in machine stitches of chain-stitch with silk thread; interior seams of cotton thread in l…

Waistcoat, about 1830

A remarkable example of French embroidery executed with dyed and flattened moosehair.The Upper Great Lakes Natives employed moosehair embroidery work on their goods; however, they clearly adopted French styles here for trade to Europeans.Canadian museums contain a few similar examples, but this is rather rare.

Waistcoat, about 1805-1815

Rather dirty, but still handsome early 19th century (Empire) waistcoat, with typical high stand collar and short straight foreparts.Exquisite hand done backstitching.White on white embroidery popular in this era.Tab at center back might possibly be for hangingon a knob or peg.

Dress Suit, about 1800

The Henry Ford's only late eighteenth/early nineteenth century dress jacket with breeches.No waistcoat to go with the suit.Worn for very formal occasions, perhaps even for presentation at court.Embroidery clearly pieced.First sewn, then cut out, and finally applied to the jacket and breeches.Poor extensive repairs for a modern wearer.Perhaps at one time used for twentieth century theater productions.

Bonnet, 1825-1875

Bonnet, 1825-1875

Nightcap, about 1865

According to the donor, the nightcap was made by Sarah Quigley for her wedding night about 1865. Unfortunately, after completing the nightcap, Sarah Quiqley discoverd that it was too small to wear.

Girl's Dress, 1915-1920

This lovely, loose-flowing Arts and Crafts-inspired dress belonged to Alleen Kelly Feiss and is the only truly higher-style Arts and Crafts girl's dress in The Henry Ford's collection.The Arts and Crafts-style decorative embroidery is quite distinctive.

Short Sleeve Wool Child's Embroidered Dress, 1840-1850

Blue dress of fine wool twill. Square, gathered neckline. Gathered cap sleeves. Gathered and pleated bodice lined with cotton. Applied waistband. Box-pleated skirt. Hand-embroidered flowered vine motif around sleeves, waist, hem. Sleeve edging embroidered in the pieceand cut from cloth. Center-back closures of hammered wire hooks and threaded eyes. Hand-sewn. Appears to have been altered to fit fuller torso: bodice lining shows stitching removed to let out pleats, skirt changed from gathering to…

Dress, 1825-1829

According to the source, the dress fabric was originally made and embroidered around 1785, and made over in the early 19th century.

Dress, 1840-1849

A beautifully constructed, sewn, and finished dress, representing a homemade version of high style. The en tablier trim on the skirt is typical of 1850-55. The bodice and narrow sleeve are 1840s, the collar reminiscent of the 1830's, the skirt trim, ruffles and embroideryof the 1840's.

Dress, 1880-1882

This dress reflects the eighteenth century revival look of a pastoral shepherdess. Chambray was not unusual but the seersucker trim was unusual as a trim detail.

Cloche, 1925-1936

Born in Decatur, Illinois in 1897 Elizabeth Parke married Harvey S. Firestone Jr., son of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey S. Firestone, in 1921.Once described by a friend as, "the most luxurious woman in the history of luxury," Elizabeth Parke Firestone's clothing collection illustrates her impeccable taste in fashion.

Shoes, 1955-1965

Mrs. Firestone likely had these custom made to match a specific outfit, now gone. This was a style she favored in the late 1950s and 1960s. The color indicates summer wear.Born in Decatur, Illinois in 1897 Elizabeth Parke married Harvey S. Firestone Jr., son of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company founder Harvey S. Firestone, in 1921.Once described by a friend as, "the most luxurious woman in the history of luxury," Elizabeth Parke Firestone's clothing collection illustrates her impeccable taste in…

Appliqued Blue Silk Organza Evening Dress, 1949

Navy blue silk organza evening dress. Scooped neckline trimmed with ivory lace leaf and rose appliques repeated in falling pattern along left front side and in embroidered vine encircling lower skirt. Very full circular skirt has two layers of organza over of layer of net. Skirt seams have been let out at waist. Dress would be worn over chemise. Clothing label: Salon Moderne/SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. Stamped on label: 804. Handwritten on label: Mrs. H. Firestone/June 30, 1949.