Ballitore Quaker Costume Collection

The exhibits include a Quaker Wedding ensemble (see below), mid 19th century bonnets, parasol ,an infant gown, portraits and photographs.

Quaker Wedding Dress

This grey wedding dress, hooded shoulder scarf and bonnet were donated in 1975 by the Religious Society of Friends who were based on Eustace Street at that time. The ensemble was described as having belonged to Jane Marion Richardson who married in 1853.

The bodice and skirt of the dress has a silk tabby weave decorated with a small woven "V" motif. The buttons are made from pearlised glass while the bodice front is shaped by three pleats at either side of the centre opening. There are seven whalebones inserted into vertical pockets in the bodice, one at the centre front, two at each side and two at the back.

The skirt has a centre back box pleat with side pleats radiating from it to an inverted pleat centre front. The back of the skirt is 11.7 cm longer than the front, although somewhat faded the original colour can be described as slate, purple/blue.

The dress is machine sewn. Machine sewing was not introduced to Ireland untill the 1860s suggesting that either the dress was made in America or that a sewing machine was imported to Ireland to make the dress.

The Bonnet

The brim of the bonnet is composed of an inner thick card support with a wide front curve, a narrower back curve and two straight sections at either side. The card is covered with cream tabby, woven fabric (probably silk). The back of the bonnet is stitched together outside the card edge and a metal wire wrapped with yarn is stitched to it. The original sewing thread was silk.

The Hooded Shoulder Scarf

The scarf consists of two equal lengths of fabric, cut diagonally at either end. The hood is lined and has ribbons inserted fir gathering. The fabric is a cream silk and again the thread used was also silk.

In 1995 Kildare County Council Library service commissioned Cliodna Devitt of Textile Conservation to provide full conservation treatment for the garments.

The dress and the scarf were wet cleaned, stitch supported and mounted in the mannequin with prepared petticoats, and simulated crinoline. The bonnet was cleaned, brim mended and supported.