Ambrotype of a Seated Woman, 1860s

Madison M 1.JPG

Subject

Photograph

Title

Ambrotype of a Seated Woman, 1860s

Date

1860s

Description

During the crinoline period, bodices fitted closely to the waist, from which the skirt widened into a round or dome shape. Waistlines at this time, during the late 1850s, had evenly distributed gathers or pleats. Looking closely at the photo, her skirt appears to have symmetrical knife pleats.

The woman’s dress has a high neckline with a collar made of white lace. Her sleeves are one of the many variations of open sleeves that were so popular in the 1850s; these necessitated undersleeves, which we see here. The woman parted her hair in the middle and fixed it in sausage curls at the back. She accessorized her outfit with a necklace, a cameo brooch, earrings, rings on her fingers, and a metallic belt buckle.

References

Joan Severa, Dressed for the Photographer: Ordinary Americans and Fashion, 1840-1900. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1995.

Source

Whitlock Collection
Donor: Mary C. Whitlock

Identifier

URI 1962.31.245

Contributor

Madison Mundorff

Citation

“Ambrotype of a Seated Woman, 1860s,” Historic Textile and Costume Collection, accessed March 28, 2024, https://uritextilecollection.omeka.net/items/show/224.