Dating this dress was difficult. Despite consulting various sources, the best I could come up with was early 30's. The shape and manner of construction, with the kimono type sleeves and seams only at base of sleeves and continuing down sides was used in the 1920's, but the length is 1930's. It is possible that this was intended for a nightgown, but the amount of handwork seems like it was meant more to be a dress. The dress is made from the palest pink dimity. It appears to have been made in just one piece, folded in half at shoulders and seamed at base of arms continuously down sides to hem. There are gathers at neck, both front and back, which provide fullness to skirt area. Collar is round and deeper in front than in back. A white batiste frill has fine black stitching at both outer and inner edges and is joined to collar's black stitched outer edge with delicate openwork. Sleeves are finished with a dimity cuff cut on the horizontal, then a frill matching that on collar. Closure is a keyhole opening at back neck which is closed with a snap. Further down on dress are two rows of hand embroidered black swags punctuated by black leaf-like motifs. At apex of swags are two embroidered cone flowers. These have tiny yellow French knots as centers, black knots outlining centers and pink petals. Stems are moss green. Hemline is scalloped and echoes the scalloped swags. Hemline is decorated with the same line of the black swags and leaves as used above. This embroidery is worked both front and back and is in very good condition. The only flaws are some small splits in fabric on left rear. I have repaired them as unobtrusively as possible. I estimate that this dress would fit a modern size 10. Condition, with the exception of repairs, is very good. Shoulder to Shoulder: 11.5" Armhole to Armhole: 15" Length: 29"- 30"
