Dress
MediumLeather, cotton, beads
Dimensions50”x21”x 21”.
Classifications3D Object
Object number2008.015.01
DescriptionShort sleeve full length dress worn by Mary Bourbonnais when she married Antoine. The item is made from light brown leather (buckskin as the outside layer and cotton duck(?) material as the inside layer that the leather is sewn to. The front has a piece of 9.5" long strip of darker brown leather cut into approx. .5" wide pieces of fringe. It is sewn to the neck. The cotton duck around the chest area is brown. The top of the leather bodice has a light brown drapery-like trim. Some of the trim is missing. The leather has a dog, a cart(?), and other unidentified designs stamped into the leather. This leather has various damage and the fringe is shorter on the proper left side. The sleeves are made from leather sewn to a floral drapery-like material (blue, brown, light brown, and pink). The base of the sleeves are brown cotton duck and the leather outside mimic bolero sleeves (only starting at the shoulder not a full piece). Around the inside edge of the sleeves are approx. 2.25" long leather fringe. This fringe, like the fringe on the front is discolored, torn and frayed. On the front portion and under the arms is a beaded leaf design comprised of 4 leaves made of clear, white, light brown/pink (2 leaves), and dark brown beads (1 leaf). One leaf is missing the beads in the middle. The stem or branch portion is made of transparent green, transparent red, yellow, and blue beads (one section of blue and white beads is missing on the proper right side). The beads are discolored. On the inside edge of the beaded design are 11 iridescent white gastropod shells sewn on (some are broken). On the very inside edge is a geometric/triangular pattern made with clear beads. Brown thread was used to stitch beads on. The sleeves are pieced together with various strips of leather. Along the outside edge is light brown cotton trim with fringe hanging off. The outside flap of the has a "v" shaped piece of brown cotton mesh with beaded floral design. The beads are white, clear, light brown (taupe), gray, green and brown. Some of the beads appear to disintegrating. Along the outside edge is a striped brown leather with 5.25" long leather fringe that is sewn on with brown thread. Discoloration throughout. The back of the item has a continuation of leather fringe from the front, but the leather fringe is longer on the proper right side. The leather is very patchy with many missing pieces. The closures are hook and eye. The interior of the opening on the back is a dark brown cotton duck material. The leather exterior of the item is made up of various pieces of leather sewn together. The item is pleated. There are many scratches, tears, discoloration and loose threads. On the proper left side of the skirt are 6 appliqués of leather cut and stamped to look like leaves. There may have been 7, but on is missing toward the top (loose strings). Below the leaves is a flower appliqué. Above the leaves is a mended portion (may have been a hole). The front has discoloration and creases throughout. The proper right side has no extra design pieces. There are also two extra patches of leather (the item may have been let out). The base of the dress on the front start with a section of light brown cotton mesh with a beaded floral, geometric and scroll design made from black, white, gray, brown, dark brown, gold colored, silver colored, and clear beads (beads missing and loose threads throughout). The beadwork on the sides (one on each side) are similar to the front with similar color except the design is floral and there are green beads. There are 2 similar designs on the back (slightly different floral pattern). Under the bead designs are five rows of alternating horizontal lines of thick black cotton trim and brown cotton duck (?) with embroidered scroll work. Below that is a single panel made of drapery embroidered with a winged lion eating something (?) also floral and scroll designs throughout. The embroidery is made of brown, light brown, red, and blue thread. Along the very bottom is cotton fringe made of light brown and dark brown thread. The interior layer of the dress is made from light green and brown cotton panels and leather panels. A support created out of white cotton is attached to the item for hanging on the exhibit mount. Exhibit label with item reads, "Mary Ann Bourbonnais Wedding Dress Made of Doeskin Decorated with Beadwork and Tapestry".Collections