Girl's Trained Dress and Bust Pads

Currently not on view

Girl's Trained Dress and Bust Pads

c. 1868-1869

Artist/maker unknown, American Worn by Martha Rebecca Griffith (American, 1867–1870)

Martha Griffith wore this very unusual dress when she was about two years old. It is a perfect miniature version of a typical adult woman’s day dress of the 1860s—not a party dress or costume. It’s not known why Martha’s parents chose to dress her like a grown-up, complete with a trained skirt and even small pads to fill out the bodice’s double darts.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Titles:

Girl's Trained Dress and Bust Pads

Date:

c. 1868-1869

Artists:

Artist/maker unknown, American Worn by Martha Rebecca Griffith (American, 1867–1870)

Medium:

Dress: Printed wool twill, silk velvet ribbon, cotton machine-made Valenciennes lace, velvet-covered buttons with metal band, wool twill tape binding; Pads: glazed cotton plain weave with cotton stuffing

Dimensions:

Center Front Length: 23 1/2 inches (59.7 cm) Center Back Length: 38 inches (96.5 cm)

Classification:

Costume (including accessories)

Credit Line:

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Hughes, Jr., 2001

Accession Number:

2001-29-1a--c

Geography:

Made in United States, North and Central America

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Currently not on view