The skirt is made of handkerchief weight cinnamon brown silk with a brown net and ribbon overskirt.  The silk underskirt is in extremely good condition with only a small, approximately 1”, tear just below the waistband at center front and a very few scattered pinholes, none larger than a pencil eraser near the hem and hidden in the pleats.  The netting has a few holes and period mends, particularly between the diamond shapes formed by the silk ribbon, but the brown underskirt really lessens their appearance.  It fastens in back with 5 hooks & eyes and is slightly bustled and trained.

The bodice is demi-lined in a lightweight brown cotton and fully boned.  The lining is sturdy and the seams are bound with the cinnamon brown silk.  There is an area left of the center back closure where a piece of brown polished cotton has been added to the lining that looks to be a period repair since there is a short bone with a hook on the opposite side.  There is some underarm staining but it is hardly visible on the outside.  It fastens up the back with 15 hooks & eyes.  The high-necked net collar is not boned nor does it have any fasteners.  The upper bodice, of the same netting, is decorated with tiny pintucks.  There is an area of slight wear to the netting near the right back upper shoulder area, though not torn completely through.  Across from it on the left back upper shoulder area, there is some shattering to the copper silk sandwiched between netting layers.  Amazingly enough, the netting is undamaged.  The beautiful cinnamon brown silk ribbon is used as decoration on the bodice, both across the front of the bodice where it is braided and down the contrasting copper-colored lapels which are edged with the same color ribbon, only wider.  The wider ribbon edges the 3 layers of netting that adorn the พ length sleeves, which are lined in cream colored silk.  There is a hole about the size of a quarter in the cream color silk at the left armscye.  The netting layers are in wonderful condition.  There are a couple of brown spots on the cream silk but are hidden by the netting. 

Approximate Measurements, given only for descriptive purposes :

Bust:     32”

Waist:   20”

Waist to Front Hemline:  41”

This dress is an amazing beauty!  It is in very good, fairly strong condition overall, with very little splitting to the silk and netting.   It displays magnificently, and while strong, we strongly discourage wearing dresses of this age.