Evening Ensemble Front View

Gown: Charles Worth evening reception bodice and skirt ensemble of velvet with jet beading:
(A) Fitted bodice of velvet with long silk sleeves overlayed with beaded lace; flounce of lace attached at end of wrist banding; standing collar with three layers of lace ruffles; CF button closure; flounce of black lace applied on right side bust; lace over silk bust-level panel insertions; interior bodice lined in silk damask; steel boning; ribbon waist band attached around waist with hook and eye closure at CF.
Label: "WORTH\7 Rue de la Paix, Paris"
(B) Long skirt of velvet adorned with black beaded lace; panel of black lace applied over black velvet down CF of skirt; ruching to sides of skirt of black velvet fabric; row of black tassels at bottom of skirt; black velvet cut in petal design and pleated at hem; slight bustle; slight train at back; top of skirt lined in silk; bottom of skirt lined in linen.
Label: none
Date: c. 1878
Note: The ensemble came from the estate sale (2003) of Countess Alicia Spaulding Paolozzi and was likely owned and worn by her grandmother or great grandmother. Her mother was an heiress to the United Fruit Company/Boston Fruit Company; the family had been silversmiths for Tiffany since the 1850s. See biography of Countess Alicia Spaulding "Paolozzi in Registrar's office.

Hair Pin: Tortoiseshell hair ornament in shape of rapier sword.
Date: 1875-99

Stick Pin: Hair jewelry stick pin in presentation box; (A) Stick pin with oval compartment containing hair and gold foliage border; oval glazed compartment with woven blonde hair; compartment framed with gold in leaf motif; Label: none (B) Presentation box; long rectangular box covered in black pebbled faux-leather, lined in satin.
Date: 1850-1900

Fan: Ostrich feather brise fan with tortoiseshell; ostrich feathers attach to imitation tortoiseshell blades; blades connected together at top by woven silk black ribbon; metal rivet attached to imitation tortoiseshell ring with circle at opposite end; roped yarn extends from circle into braiding, knotting, velveteen balls and fan fastener.
Date: 1875-1900