dress, 1-piece

1790 - 1800

Empire style; natural-colored cotton with printed sprig design; center front opening extending into skirt section; much piecing at upper front; scoop neck with casing and drawstring; falls loose in front from neck to skirt (which would have been controlled by some type of tie or drawstring which is no longer evident); bodice extending over shoulder into back; bodice side/back pieces joined to skirt; tucks, taken on side pieces to control fullness, which are released at raised waist level; center back seam; double inverted box pleat at skirt center back at raised waist level; additional pleats in skirt section where side/back and back pieces seamed; long, narrow set-in sleeves; wrist opening of sleeves trimmed with self ruffle; back bodice and sleeve lined with white linen; skirt longer in back than front; horizontal tuck in skirt near hem; narrow foldover hem.