Blue silk taffeta dress from the nineteenth century

This woman's one piece, blue silk taffeta dress has a pattern of tiny blue and white checks. The garment has a fitted bodice that buttons down front, and its buttons are covered by a panel of pleated blue iridescent taffeta. A band of embroidered iridescent blue taffeta, having a peacock-tail design, is edged with maroon around the back-neck, and over the shoulders. The front forms a V-shaped waist that separates toward the hips. The same material and pattern are around the cuffs of the long …