The Civil War exhibit, “On the Home Front” is set to open exactly one month from today. We are continuing to frantically dress the mannequins in preparation for photography. The unbelievably large skirts require a staggering amount of understructure to achieve the correct shape. The following pictures show some of the underpinnings required to properly fit the mannequin to the dresses. There are about 30 dresses in total (as well as other assorted pieces such as uniforms, crinolines, corsets, hair jewelry and a quilt). The quantity of tulle, muslin and panty hose that these dresses have ‘consumed’ is difficult to imagine.
This is how it seems sometimes while we are working:
-Sara Hume, Curator
