#6577 $450
Child's fancy cotton dress, late 19th century
Antique children's clothing has an enduring charm. It is hard to imagine that children were so beautifully dressed before we had labor saving devices like washing machines.
This adorable child's dress is fashioned from crisp white cotton piqué. The texture of the weave is accentuated with bands of braided cotton trim and eyelet ruffles. The rows of fabric-covered buttons are decorative in front and functional in back.
An auction several years ago reminds us how highly museums value fine historic children's clothing. At the 9/03 Stair Galleries auction, a lovely child's dress was estimated to go for $500-$700. It went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for $4,600.
The condition is almost excellent. The dress is absolutely perfect. Four of the buttons in back are old replacements that do not match.
It measures: 22" chest, 27" hip band, and 19" from the shoulder to the hem.
