Deep plum silk wedding dress

Date

• ca. 1880-ca. 1889

Summary

• Deep plum silk two piece dress. The bodice has fitted banana sleeves, ten button holes and ten crocheted covered buttons at the front. The top button is missing. The skirt is in three layers. The top layer is in a symmetrical drape in front and puff bustle in back. The middle layer is box pleated with an underlayer of 3" tightly pleated ruffles. Both pieces are lined in brow polished cotton. The waist is 25", the skirt is 41" at center front. Pinned to the dress when purchased was the following note, "Worn by Anna Plover at her wedding to Ezra Goebel in 1858, parents of late Katherine Goebel Foote of Earlville." The attached note is dated 1858, but it appears that the last two digits may have been transposed because the style suggests later 1880s, more likely 1885.