Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

SET, CHRISTENING DRESS & SLIP

Date Range From

1850

Date Range To

1890

Materials

COTTON, LINEN

No. Pieces

2

Description

1. DRESS - 2.5CM(H) X 91.5CM (L) X 79.7CM (W). WHITE LINEN. NECK AND CUFFS TRIMMED WITH A LACEY FABRIC. EACH CUFF HAS A WHITE RIBBON TIED IN A BOW, BACK OF NECK ALSO HAS A WHITE RIBBON TIED IN A BOW. BACK OF DRESS CLOSES WITH THREE WHITE BUTTONS. FRONT OF BODICE HAS EMBROIDERED CRISS-CROSS DESIGNS ON IT. BACK OF BODICE AND SKIRT, HAVE SMALL, WHITE EMBROIDERED FLOWERS THROUGHOUT. BOTTOM OF SKIRT IS EMBROIDERED WITH CRISS-CROSS DESIGNS, AND BOTTOM EDGE IS MADE TO LOOK LIKE LACE (SAME AS ON CUFFS AND NECK). STAINED. 2. SLIP - 2.2CM(H) X 81.0CM(L) X 74.0CM(W). WHITE COTTON. BODICE HAS NO DISTINGUISHABLE NECKLINE. IT IS CUT STRAIGHT ACROSS THE FRONT; FABRIC IS CUT INTO A DOWNWARD CURVE ON EACH SIDE (FOR ARMS), AND BACK IS CUT STRAIGHT ACROSS. BACK IS HELD CLOSED BY SIX WHITE TIES; ONE OF THE TIES HAS FALLEN OFF ONE SIDE. WAIST IS GATHERED. MATERIAL IS PLAIN WHITE EXCEPT FOR HEM OF SKIRT, WHICH IS TRIMMED WITH A STRIP OF LACEY LIKE MATERIAL. SLIP IS STAINED

Subjects

CLOTHING-OUTERWEAR

Historical Association

RELIGION

History

DRESS AND SLIP WERE USED BY THE SHERLOCK OR MACLEOD FAMILIES. MARJ BELIEVED SHE WAS PERSONALLY BAPTIZED IN THE GOWN ON ACCOUNT THAT IT WAS THE OFFICIAL BAPTISMAL GOWN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. MARJ WAS BAPTISED AT ST AUGUSTINE'S AROUND JUNE 7, 1929. IT IS UNKNOWN WHICH MATERNAL SIDE OF THE FAMILY THE GOWN WAS PASSED DOWN, BUT DONOR BELIEVES IT WAS SHERLOCK. SEE P19920058006-GA FOR MORE HISTORY. *UPDATE* IN 2015 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS, INCLUDING ONE DONATED BY MARJORIE WELCH'S MOTHER, NORA EVERSON. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHERLOCK/MACLEOD FAMILY, SEE RECORDS P19960108000 AND P19740093000.

*UPDATE* IN 2021 TWO COLLECTIONS ASSISTANTS, RYLEY GELINAS AND O. E., CONDUCTED AN AUDIT OF THE ROLLED TEXTILE COLLECTION, INCLUDING SEVERAL TEXTILES DONATED BY MARJORIE AND JACK WELCH. ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2021, GELINAS INTERVIEWED PADDIE WALMSLEY, THE DONORS’ DAUGHTER, ABOUT HER PARENTS’ DONATION AND HER MEMORIES OF THE OBJECTS OF THIS DONATION, INCLUDING THE BAPTISMAL GOWN AND SLIP. WHILE WALMSLEY WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE BAPTISMAL GOWN OR SLIP, SHE STATED IT “WOULD MAKE SENSE” THAT HER MOTHER WORE THE GOWN FOR HER BAPTISM. WALMSLEY STATED THAT OBJECTS OF THE COLLECTION WERE DONATED TO THE MUSEUM BY HER PARENTS AS A WAY TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY: “SHE [MARJORIE WELCH] KNEW THE VALUE OF HISTORY AND THAT WAS KIND HER THING… AND MOM JUST WANTED, WOULD WANT SOMEBODY ELSE TO ENJOY THEM, AND YOU KNOW, TO KNOW THE HISTORY AND SEE IT.”

Catalogue Number

P19920058008

Acquisition Date

1993-11

Collection

Museum

Less detail