Textile Note: Victorian Luxury, E. Hosking Nims Dress

This gown (jacket shown here) is one of the few that has the name of an owner attached to it within the Irma Bowen Collection at the University of New Hampshire Museum. This is fortunate for the woman who wore this garment, Elizabeth Hosking (Nims) had impeccable taste and an eye for not only lovely, but perfectly crafted details. One will note the use of monochromatic tones for this silk taffeta dress, relieved by various treatments showcased in Embellishments: Constructing Victorian Detail (coming September 2012); including bound edges, pleats, and elaborate seaming and gathers.

Although Elizabeth Hosking, born in St. Austell, Cornwall, England on December 11, 1826, there is a strong local connection between the gown and the region. She was the second wife of Lanmon Nims . Lanmon was born in Sullivan on Feb 3rd, 1811. He married his first wife, Lydia Locke on Feb 14, 1837; she died on Feb 2, 1851, two months after giving birth to their 4th child. Lanmon married Elizabeth on October 28th, 1851. They were married by Reverend Dr. Joel Clapp of Bellow Falls, VT (possibly of Immanuel Episcopal Church). Lanmon and Elizabeth resided in Keene, NH, where Lanmon was very successful in real estate, constructing the first town hall and church of Keene. Lanmon died on Sept 20, 1887 and Elizabeth died October 18, 1906; they had four children. Lanmon, his first wife Lydia, and his second wife Elizabeth were all buried in Woodland Cemetery in Keene NH. Research on E. Hosking Nims is ongoing.

Bridget Swift, Research Associate

Augmented Post on the Montgomery Store

 General Montgomery’s wealth and status may be seen in the commodious late Georgian home he built c. early 1790s, with its second floor ballroom, his outbuildings (including the store, which was readily accessible via a door cut into the side elevation closest, and at least one barn) and land holdings. Similar to the house, the store also had multiple entries, including one facing the street (pictured) and one leading down to the Oliverian Brook, again for easy access for the owner and his customers.  It appears from a number of small purchases of alcohol, made by 6-8 men simultaneously, that they were most likely working in the General's factories and mills, and would have benefited from direct entry to the store.

Congratulations to Astrida of SchaefferArts!

UNH alum and guest curator of Embellishments: Constructing Victorian Detail was featured in UNH today!
http://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2012/02/museum-quality-astrida-schaeffer-99

Shoe Files: Historic New England, c. 1770

Jonathan Hose and Son, London, c.1770

Courtesy, Historic New England

These cream silk brocaded shoes, with blue and red flowers on a patterned ground, were made by a London family of cordwainers named Hose. The upper features an attractive floral silk in browns and greens on white with an oval toe. A well-proportioned 2.5 inch heel and period buckles (owned by Prudence Jenkins and worn for her wedding in 1778) complete this tasteful ensemble.

As Historic New England catalog information notes, many eighteenth-century shoes are called buckle shoes because a removable metal buckle was used to fasten the straps along the top. The high heel, round toe, angled side seams, and exuberant floral pattern of this buckle shoe are characteristic of shoes made in the third quarter of the eighteenth century.

In eighteenth-century Boston, Massachusetts, as in Philadelphia, PA, Newport, RI and Portsmouth, NH, the latest London fashions were readily available to those who could afford them. These brocade shoes were made in the section of London called Cheapside, known for its textile merchants and shoemakers. Like most shoes of the period, they have no right or left but were made to be interchangeable. The long tabs were intended to be fastened by buckles, which were worn like jewelry and could be transferred from one pair of shoes to another. Buckles could be set with diamonds for the wealthiest wearers, or, like these, made of paste.

For similar examples by the Hose family, see earlier posts and collections at Historic Deerfield and the Charleston Museum.

Acc. # 1919.140AB

Gift of Miss Mary C. Wheelwright

Information and photograph courtesy, Historic New England

Visit the Amesbury Carriage Festival on Facebook

You can now follow preparations for one of the most exciting events this summer in New England - the Amesbury Carriage Festival on Facebook. This is a not to be missed event!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/AmesburyCarriageFestival