Pink and brown stripe gown fragment

Martha Washington Dress Fragment,
1770-1800,
Silk

Status

Not on view

Date1770-1800

Medium/TechniqueSilk

DimensionsOverall: 2 3/4 in. × 4 in. (6.99 cm × 10.16 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Arthur Newton Pack, Vice Regent for Arizona, 1971

Object numberW-2593

DescriptionThe fabric features a 4/1 warp-faced satin weave in a striped pattern with a floral pattern done with weft floats. While the warp threads are different colors depending on placement, the weft threads are white all the way across. The warp yarns are slightly S-spun, and while the weft yarns may have originally shown a twist, they now appear to be unspun filament.

The pattern consists of thin, brown stripes alternating with a thicker stripe of maroon on top of which is a white floral vine motif. The pattern repeat is very small, repeating vertically ever 1 3/4 inches and horizontally every 1 9/16 inch. The repeat is a straight repeat rather than a point repeat.

The fragment is pasted onto a piece of cardboard that says in pencil, "Piece of General Washington's Wife's Gown," and in pen, "A-1249" and "W-2593." Only the far ends of the fragment are pasted to the board.

The fragment shows significant fading in the maroon yarns, which are now a light pink.

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