For those of you not familiar with the Weeden House, it is the former home of poet and painter Maria Howard Weeden, dating back to 1819. In the Victorian era this lady went by the name Howard in her books of poetry, and was commonly taken for a man. Weeden gained notoriety in the modern age for her lovingly painted portraits of African slaves and servants that shared her home - a phenotype of humanity not seen in American anymore.
The house was taken over when the Union occupied Huntsville and the Weeden family was thrown into the streets. The Union burned most of the family's furniture, but the antebellum house escaped serious damage. Restorations have brought the home back to Maria's day.Although much of the land has been sold off since the Weedens lived here, the House maintains some beautiful gardens.
A lovely collection of woman's dress graces the house from top to bottom. The Weeden House is usually very beautiful, but the clothing also seemed at home in the surroundings.
Nicely arranged on both manikins and draped across furniture, the dresses and undergarments often seemed to have been laid aside by the former occupants of the house.
Fashion from the Victorian era to modern day, on loan from the collection of Gay Money. Such a wonderful thing to share with the community!
Click on any photo to enlarge it and see the detailing in these hand sewn garments.
I'm especially taken with the details every part of the garment holds. In today's American culture, clothes are almost disposable. In other eras, clothes were lovingly made to last a lifetime - and beyond as these garments prove.
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