Figured satin mourning dress || MFA Boston || c. 1890 Dress in two parts; black figured satin with all-over design of highly conventionalized scrolling leaves with pendent blossoms; fitted bodice (a) with folds of self material in front; hooked down center front; high, standing collar; long modified leg of mutton sleeves; jet-beaded trimming bands on collar, lower edge of sleeves, bands down center front and around bottom edge of bodice; (b) skirt with slight flar in front with most of fullness gathered to center back; matching self material bow below the collar. Though the website doesn’t say so, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is a mourning gown, not only because of the colour but because of the jet trimming. It wouldn’t be full mourning, since it has fancier fabric, but all the other things point to a late mourning costume.

Figured satin mourning dress || MFA Boston || c. 1890

Dress in two parts; black figured satin with all-over design of highly conventionalized scrolling leaves with pendent blossoms; fitted bodice (a) with folds of self material in front; hooked down center front; high, standing collar; long modified leg of mutton sleeves; jet-beaded trimming bands on collar, lower edge of sleeves, bands down center front and around bottom edge of bodice; (b) skirt with slight flar in front with most of fullness gathered to center back; matching self material bow below the collar.

Though the website doesn’t say so, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is a mourning gown, not only because of the colour but because of the jet trimming. It wouldn’t be full mourning, since it has fancier fabric, but all the other things point to a late mourning costume.