The Oldest Dress in the Museum's Collection!

One of the oldest garments in the permanent collection at the New Canaan Museum & Historical Society dates back to the late 1780’s and, according to their records, was worn by the great-great-great-grandmother of Katherine Fisher (née Blodget) who raised her family in New Canaan with her husband Walter.

A dress like this would have been appropriate for the wearer’s everyday activities. It is an open robe- meant to be worn with a petticoat- made of a printed chinoiserie depicting a recurring motif with Asian-inspired elements. A robust trade between the American colonies and countries such as India, China, and Japan throughout the eighteenth century contributed to a huge influence of Asian art into the textiles imported into America. This is exhibited in the floral pattern, tiny pergolas, and miniature vases decorating the fabric, which would have been printed on the textile with dyes after it was woven, rather than woven into the material itself.

New Canaan officially separated from Norwalk and Stamford as its own town in 1801, and the centers of commerce and trade prior to this would have been found in the larger towns of Norwalk and Stamford due to their proximity to water and thus access to trade. With such bustling trade ports nearby, the residents of Canaan parish in the late 1780s were no exception to the participation of this global industry and would have been glad recipients of such bright and popular textiles for their garments.

Contemporary structures to this garment in our collection include the tavern run and owned by Mr. Hanford out of his personal home, which can be viewed on our current property. The tavern was opened in the late 1760s and would have provided a robust business to travelers and residents of the town. An additional structure in town contemporary to this dress is the house at no. 4 Main St, which was built in 1780.

The video was originally created on January 20, 2022

[snowcreek]

What a real treasurer and my fav dress of yours, so rare that a 1700’s American made dress survives. Your collection of 19th C. dresses is one of the most extensive I’ve seen. Thank you Charlotte & Mike, from a Virginia native who’s family settled here, from Scotland, in the 1760’s, fought in the Rev War. My main interests are 19th C. and previous, American History.

[Ikwigsjoyful]

Ah, I took a history major, with a concentration in the social and material culture of 18th and early 19th century America (mostly U.S.). I mostly studied books and china of the time period, rather than garments. You have a wonderful job, and I thank you for sharing these behind the scenes looks with us.

[JA]

Gorgeous and historic. Thank you for preserving and educating about such important history.

[StLProgressive]

Beautiful. That’s one of my favorite time periods also.

[kikijewell]

Question: the elbows look bent like bird's wings - is this because the dress was made with extra fabric at the elbows to allow for movement?

[sray]

To bad you can’t get a replica of the dress made for displaying.