Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Deep red in color, this dress includes fashionable 1840s features such as the fan-shaped ruched waist and ruffled upper sleeve embellishments. It appears to be an adult woman’s gown cleverly adjusted for a stylish teenager. The very deep hem indicates an adult-length skirt was significantly shorted, and the chest folds or pleating on the unaltered bodice lend to a more mature bustline.
The dress is associated with Pamelia Emery (1833-1847), who died at age 16 from tuberculous. She was buried alongside her brother John and mother Elizabeth Emery Higgins at Portland’s Western Cemetery.
About This Item
- Title: Teenage Pamelia Emery's silk dress, Portland, ca. 1847
- Creation Date: circa 1847
- Subject Date: circa 1847
- Location: Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- Media: silk, cotton
- Dimensions: 96.5 cm x 94 cm
- Local Code: A86-754
- Collection: Costume collection
- Object Type: Physical Object
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Clothing & dress
- Dresses
- Fashion
- Women's clothing--19th century
- Young women--Death
- Young women--Maine
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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