A magnificent and interesting baby or perhaps doll dress in a challis print fabric. Dating from the late 1850's or 1860's.  The fabric print is a small diamond shape with the colors of brown and white.  Background color of the challis is blue.  A very tiny piping is sewn at the shoulder seams and edge of bodice where it attaches to the cartridge pleats at the waist of the skirt.  Hook and eye closure from the neck opening to the waist.  Short sleeves with embellishment of black velvet ribbon trim.  The dress is lined in two different fabrics.  The bodice in a brown glazed and the skirt in a brown muslin.   What is so interesting about the dress, is the lining has been completely stitched to the challis fabric, in rows forming squares and even rectangles on the skirt. ( Much like quilting, if you will.)   The squares measure about 1-1/4".  The rectangles measure 1-1/2" x 1/2".   The bodice is sewn in a diagonal as well as straight line. All hand stitched.  Hem and neck line is turned and stitched.

Measurements of the dress:  19" long from the neck line to the hem.  8-1/2" across from shoulder to shoulder.  Waist line is 10-1/2" around.  It is hard to imagine a small child wearing this size dress, so I am wondering if the dress hadn't been made from a larger garment, into a doll dress?   However, it has been worn as evident by the darning repair on the skirt.   Needless to say, the darning is charming. There are  two other smaller repairs elsewhere on the skirt, too.   Otherwise the garment is good.  

A wonderful dress for research, display or dress a doll.