Arcy Cary Bradford's gigot sleeve wedding dress, ca. 1829
Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Gigot sleeve is the French term for the "leg of mutton" sleeve, a puffy, voluminous sleeve style popular around 1830. This particular dress represents the trend in its early years, before the sleeve size reached its peak.
An inscription on the lining indicates Arcy Cary wore this dress when she married Richmond Bradford in 1829. The beige silk dress features the fashionable gigot sleeve, which are lined with a glazed brown linen. There is a frill net at the cuff. Evidence of prior stitching suggests the waist was lowered at some point.
Arcy (Cary) Bradford (1795-1855) married Dr. Richmond Bradford on September 3, 1829. The couple and their family lived in Turner, and eventually moved to Auburn.
View additional information about this item on the Maine Memory Network.