Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Despite the basket weave appearance, a milliner wove this light brown bonnet from cotton, not straw. The ties are trimmed with cotton lace and silk ribbon. The piece is associated with Martha Abbott Russell (1810-1894) who reportedly wore the bonnet at her marriage to Alonzo Fifield in 1842. Originally from Newry, Maine along the Maine - New Hampshire boarder, the new couple lived at Riley Plantation, a rural township adjacent to Newry, where they operated a family farm. The bonnet’s sophisticated style and quality craftsmanship is a testament to rural Maine’s appreciation for fashion.
About This Item
- Title: Martha Fifield's woven cotton bonnet, Newry, ca. 1842
- Creation Date: 1842
- Subject Date: circa 1842
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Locations:
- Newry, Oxford County, ME
- Riley Plantation, Oxford County, ME
- Media: cotton, silk
- Local Code: 3896*a
- Collection: Costume collection
- Object Type: Physical Object
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For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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