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Overview
A Scottish Wedding Ensemble
This ensemble features a skirt with a 'tailed' jacket-bodice and standard bodice, all of which have been made in a heavy brown silk featuring a woven horizontal stripe. According to donor records, this skirt and one of the bodices was worn by Jane Rattray on the occasion of her marriage to James Brydon on 13 June 1867 at Garvald, Haddington County, Scotland.
Description
The jacket-bodice is tightly fitted and boned, and it shaped over the hips. It features a high collar trimmed with a cream muslin ruffle, a pleated ruffle hem, fitted sleeves, the cuffs of which are trimmed with brown ribbon and lace and two decorative buttons. The jacket also features a long 'tail' at the back, which has two deep pleats at the top of which are placed two decorative buttons. The jacket fastens centre front with 11 buttons. The jacket-bodice is lined with a blue/grey woven cotton.
The second bodice is fitted and boned at the front, and lined with brown cotton. It fastens centre front with eight cream and purple functional buttons (the 8th button is a replacement). The bodice is trimmed with cream and brown diamond patterned braid - two bands down the front and one around the neck - and chestnut brown tasselled braid, which runs from the shoulder to centre waist both front and back, emphasising the slope of the shoulders. Unfortunately, the sleeves have been removed, and the edges remain raw.
The skirt is a wide bell shaped skirt, with heavy pleating at the back. The skirt is slightly gathered at the front and features two deep pleats, the top of which are embellished with pewter coloured cut glass passmentarie. The latter might be later additions to the garment. The skirt fastens with hooks and eyes at the back.