Skip to main contentDress | McCord Museum Online Collections | McCord Museum - Montreal Social History Museum 
Dress
Maker
Inconnu / Unknown
Marks or LabelsNone
Date
1890-1900
Medium / Technique
Silk taffeta, silk chiffon, cotton lace, silk ribbon trim, silk twill tape, China silk, boning, metal hook and eyes
Dimensions76.5 cm (length); chest : 62.6 cm (circumference); sleeve: 30.2 cm (length)
ClassificationPersonal Objects - Clothing - Main Garments
Object NumberM2022X.1.1.1-2
CollectionMcCord
NotesExhibition Costume Balls - Dressing Up History, 1870-1927
A Shepherdess
The child who wore this dress undoubtedly accessorized it with a crook and a white wig, and may in fact have called her character any number of names, including “Little Bo-Peep,” or perhaps “Poudre.” A key element of all 18th-century portrayals were hairstyles or wigs that imitated the powdered heads of that time, and many such representations were known simply as “poudre” characters or costumes.
A Shepherdess
The child who wore this dress undoubtedly accessorized it with a crook and a white wig, and may in fact have called her character any number of names, including “Little Bo-Peep,” or perhaps “Poudre.” A key element of all 18th-century portrayals were hairstyles or wigs that imitated the powdered heads of that time, and many such representations were known simply as “poudre” characters or costumes.
Status
On viewInformation about the objects in our collection is updated to reflect new research findings. If you have any information to share regarding this object, please email reference.mccord@mccord-stewart.ca.Information about rights and reproductions is available here.
This project is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation and Canadian Heritage.