Cotton envelope chemise with lace trim

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A handsewn cotton envelope chemise with lace cotton Valenciennes lace trim. The front of the chemise is made from a single panel of plain weave cotton batiste. There is Valenciennes lace trim around the neckline and arm holes. A beige silk satin ribbon is weaved through decorative ovoid holes cut along the lace neckline and is tied in a bow in the center. There are three ovoid floral lace inserts in the front bust area of the chemise. Valenciennes lace trim has been handstitched to the bottom hem. The back of the chemise is composed of one panel that is hand sewn to the front panel at the proper left and right seams. An envelope flap with four glass pearlized buttons is handsewn along the bottom of the back panel. There is a corresponding band with four buttonholes sewn to the interior bottom of the front panel.

Explore Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture ↗