SKU: 90023129571
american civil war dresses

american civil war dresses Original Civil War Era Dress 1860s Mauve Plaid Antique

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Description

american civil war dresses Original Civil War Era Dress 1860s Mauve Plaid AntiqueThis marvelous find is an original mauve plaid 2 piece Civil War era dress, circa 1860, that features pagoda sleeves and functional center front buttonhole closure. The most exciting thing about this dress is that the color mauve is incorporated into the striping of the skirt. Invented in 1856, mauve was the first chemical (vs. plant material) dye ever made and the color became one of the colors acceptable for use in complimentary or secondary

This marvelous find is an original mauve plaid 2-piece Civil War era dress, circa 1860, that features pagoda sleeves and functional center front buttonhole closure.

The most exciting thing about this dress is that the color mauve is incorporated into the striping of the skirt. Invented in 1856, mauve was the first chemical (vs. plant material) dye ever made and the color became one of the colors acceptable for use in “complimentary” or “secondary” mourning clothing. It is quite probable that, given the other colors in the skirt are black and white, this dress was made specifically for this purpose.

The bodice is fully lined in brown cotton twill and the interior of the pagoda sleeves is lined with lightweight, gauzier weave of ivory colored polished cotton. The upper portion of the bodice front is padded – seen as tiny hand stitches that hold the padding in place on the inside only, and there are 3 stays – they feel like they could be baleen. The collar, armscye, and waist have tiny self-fabric piping. The sleeve tops are box pleated at the top and are finished with fringed ribbon at the cuff. The closure is at center front with 9 handmade buttonholes and the prettiest little goldtone and black glass buttons that have a goldstone curly cue molded into them.  Of note is an extra buttonhole that was turned under and a tiny brass hook with an even tinier handmade thread eye.

The front of the bodice has quite a bit of yellow/brown staining and the underarm area is also stained. The skirt is fully lined with brown cotton and has a pocket attached at the waistband. The waistband looks to be hand sewn to the knife pleated skirt. There is damage to the waistband, at the closure area (no hooks and eyes) and a tear, about the size of a buttonhole, elsewhere on the waistband. The bottom of the skirt does have a hem protector, but the hem was shortened and has been tucked to the inside. This shortening has been done neatly and well, and probably could be removed to restore the skirt to its original length if so desired. There is generalized slight darkening of the front of the skirt, and a few scattered brown spots and pin holes. There is a small hole in the silk fabric on the left side (pictured) that is slightly larger than a pencil tip eraser.

Condition:

Overall, the silk fabric is in exceptional condition with no splitting or shattering. The entire dress is reasonably strong and supple, probably due to the full lining. There are several tiny dot holes in the silk throughout. There is generalized slight darkening of the front of the skirt, and a few scattered brown spots and pin holes. There is a small hole in the silk fabric on the left side of the skirt (pictured) that is slightly larger than a pencil tip eraser, along with the issues mentioned above in the body of the description.

Approximate measurements are given for reference only, as garments of this age cannot stand up to the stress of being worn.

Measurements:

BODICE

Bust: 33”
Waist: 24”

SKIRT

Waist: 23”
Skirt Length: 41 3/8” (measured from the bottom of the waistband to the CURRENT hem)
Sweep: 147”

 

(Shown over a period cage crinoline, which is NOT included but is available separately. Please ask! We usually have many hoops / cages available for sale.)

This is an antique dress. Due to the fragile nature of antique dresses, we cannot accept returns on this dress.

 

 

Purchase of this item means that you have read the full description and have read and agree to our  shop policies.

______________________________________________________

Copyright © 2025 by Belle à Coeur, all rights reserved

Images may not be copied, printed or otherwise disseminated without express written permission of Belle à Coeur or its agents.  Purchase of this item does not constitute express written permission.


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SKU: 90023129571

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J
John M.
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Size: 1 Panel, Size: 1 Panel
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Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2026
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Dan & Stacey
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★★★★★ 3
Lightweight divider that works well for video call backgrounds
Size: 1 Panel
This divider works fine for what it is, but it’s definitely on the lightweight side. Setup was very easy and only took a few minutes. The frame is fairly light, so it’s easy to move around or reposition if needed. That said, the tradeoff is that it’s not especially sturdy. It stands fine on its own but I wouldn’t expect it to handle much bumping or movement. I mainly bought it to use as a background for Zoom calls when I’m working from my den, and for that purpose it works great. The fabric panel blocks the room behind me and gives a cleaner background on camera. It’s not huge though. To keep the camera from seeing around it, I have to position it directly behind my chair. If you’re expecting it to divide a large room or create a big privacy barrier, it may feel a bit small. Overall, it does the job and works well for temporary setups or video call backgrounds, but the lightweight frame keeps it from feeling like a premium divider. The product description and photos are accurate.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2026
C
Customer Review
New York, US
★★★★★ 2
Sent Wrong Pieces
Size: 1 Panel, Size: 1 Panel
I really, really wanted to like this - and, in theory, I really, really should have! The instructions were easy to follow and assembly took about five minutes. The assembled screen is lightweight and easy to move. It was a great size and exactly what I was looking for except....I wasn't sent the correct pieces. Instead of receiving 4 elbow pieces and 4 feet, I received 2 elbow pieces and 8 feet - meaning that the bottom part of the fabric just hangs there and, overall, the divider is extremely unstable because there is no horizontal support on the bottom. Thankfully, there are Velcro tabs on the side of the fabric so I can use it if I don't plan to move it even 1 cm, but otherwise, what I received is not usable for what I needed it for. Additionally, the fabric is made of polyester and catches animal hair very easily. Had I received the correct pieces, this would be a good buy for the money. Unfortunately, overall, I'm disappointed.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2026
K
Kenneth
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Works great, keeps the light out of my eyes and easy to put together
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Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2026
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Holly
Chelsea, US
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Great Dividers
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