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Spoon Bonnet, about 1860
Straw bonnets such as this were worn seasonally in the spring and summer.
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Bonnet, about 1870
Straw bonnets such as this were day wear in spring and summer.
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Earrings, about 1870
This pair of earrings is primarily Egyptian in form and decoration. However, it does include some aspects of otherhistorical styles such as the pendant amphora.One might also offer that the knife edge work is also seen in some Greek and Roman revival jewelry.Egyptian motifs were particularly popular in Western jewelry in the later 1860s and 1870s, and these earrings are compatible with the aesthetic of that period.However, screw back earrings were not seen in this era.It seems plausible that the…
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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…
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Child's Shoes, about 1870
These are sturdy, simple, inexpensive half-boots likely worn by a working class child. Thick, strong leather would have been uncomfortable and unforgiving for the wearer.
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Cross Pendant, about 1860
Woven hair, or plaited hair, jewelry was quite popular in the mid nineteenth century.It was sentimental jewelry in that it was used to remember loved ones who moved away, to simply recall the loved ones even if near, or to memorialize those who had passed away.Some enjoyed hair jewelry because of the lacy nature of the material.Hair jewelry could be made at home, instructions were found in Godey's Lady's Book and other popular publications, or by jewelers.Hair jewelry fell from favor by the 1880…
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Cameo Pin, about 1860
Cameos were generally cut from stone until the nineteenth century when shell cameos were found to be lovely and affordable.Many were cut en cameo with images of the ancients, although medieval images were also popular.This one is interesting in that it may allude to the rescue of a sailor, as the angel holds an anchor while pointing in a direction of a flailing man.Perhaps this commemorates a sea rescue.
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Earrings, about 1870
These earrings are quite typical gold metal and black enamel earrings dating from about 1870.This gold metal and black enamel decoration is quite popular 1870-1890.However, the decoration on the plaques appears to be from the late 1860s or early 1870s and the length of the earrings indicates a date of the 1870.By the 1880s earrings had become shorter to prevent them from becoming entangled in lacy collars; these are too long to date from the 1880s.
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Baseball Uniform Shirt, about 1865-1885
By the late 1850s, baseball became an increasingly formal sport with urban teams sporting their own uniforms.The predominant style shirt of the late 1850s into the 1870s was a bib front.Typical as well, is an abbreviation of the club name on the bib.The maker of this top applied the letters "A B B C." The letter "A" signifies the club name, and it may reflect a specific town such as Akron or the club name such as "Atlantic."The letters "B B C" represent the term "base ball club," and was also ty…
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Brooch, about 1860
This interesting brooch combines styles popular in the 1850s and 1860s, namely the bow know form with the dead gold metal (bright yellow metal that is produced without a sheen) and Etruscan filigree (delicate dots of gold that imitates Etruscan filigree decoration) that were popular primarily from the 1830s on.Etruscan filigree, really granulated drops of gold, was revived by Giulio Castellani of Britain who learned of the work from a scholar studying the ancients.He popularized the Etruscan rev…
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Mules, about 1870
Mrs. Tom Thumb (1841-1918), was known variously as Lavinia Warren, Countess M. Lavinia Magri, and Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump. She was a dwarf who stood just 32 inches high. Lavinia Warren went under contract to P.T. Barnum in 1862, who indulged her preferences for fine clothing and jewelry.She married Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton, 1838-1883) in 1863 and the two toured with P.T. Barnum's Circus until Thumb's death in 1883. These fine slippers offer an indication of her size (very small) and style (…
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Women's Boots, about 1870
The machine stitching on these boots is extraordinarily tight and fine--fabulous. Very narrow outer sole for a long, skinny foot. They could be wedding boots. Donor Mrs. Ethel G. Douglas, of 5th Ave. in New York City, was born circa 1885 in Pennsylvania. It is plausible that these were her mother's shoes, perhaps worn at a wedding around 1875.
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Waistcoat, about 1870
Nice example of warm weather waistcoat.Appears to be two parallel rows of top-stitching on lapel and foreparts.Waistcoast hand sewn except center back seam.Seams with buttons on posts or links.
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Dress, 1855-1865
This dress appears to have been remade in order to incorporate late 1860s fashion. The sleeves suggest the 1860s; the skirt appears to have been remade, and pleated instead of gauged. The dress is pieced to make up the yardage, but in a very deliberate mirror image on each side to make it less noticeable.
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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.
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Boy's Knicker Suit, about 1860
The jacket and sleeves of this suit are reminiscent of 1860s zouave suits so popular around the time of the Civil War. It was likely used for summer wear.
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Black wool riding habit from the nineteenth century
This woman's black wool riding habit has a fitted jacket (a) with a stand-up collar and a cloth ruffle showing above the top. It has sloping shoulders, and long, tight sleeves. It buttons down the front, and is cut-away with a short tail in the back. The skirt (b) is very long and full, and is gathered at the waist in large pleats. It has a black cloth waistband. The black felt hat (c) has a round crown with a narrow visor in the front. It has a band of black grosgrain ribbon, and is lined wit…