Gold mesh clutch bag with zipper closed with chain and metal bead stamped with "Talon." Exterior covered with gold mesh in a lattice pattern; solid mesh near top. Pale yellow satin-like fabric lining with one open-top pocket and maker's label sewn to pocket.
Woman's black velvet long-sleeved top. Black velvet exterior, fully-lined with light-weight tan-colored fabric. Only closure is 2 snaps, inside right and center corresponding with 2 snaps outside left at bottom of garment. Sleeves decorated with 13-inch band with hair trim sewn on an angle. 4 black globe beads/buttons sewn at upper end. Small pocket sewed on lining inside.
Black crepe-like long-sleeved blouse. Front opening with 4 fabric-covered buttons. 2 additional buttons (third is missing) on 2.5-inch high stand-up collar. Back of collar is 5 inches tall. Sleeves end in 4-inch cuffs with hook & eye to close 1.5-inch slit. Hook & eye also at front lower edge. Hem is casing with elastic inside. Machine-stitched; French seam finishes.
Navy blue woman's long-sleeved top/bodice. 7 hooks and eyes at center front (4 hooks, 5 eyes present). Tailored with 2 bust darts on left and right fronts. Peak at lower center front with opening on diagonal trimmed in self-fabric with tiny box pleats from right shoulder to lower left front. 1 1/2-inch stand-up, mandarin collar. Front Vee gathered with 4 rows of stitching on both sides. Left side has a flat-edged collar. An unusual asymmetric front. Back lower edge has 2 center flaps. Both machine and handstitching. All raw edges hand overcast.
Black bodice with 13 shank buttons center front. (Buttons are silver 5/8-inch circles with decorative silver squares on top). Hand-finished buttonholes. Sleeve ends decorated with lace and two buttons with a large satin bow.
Vest flares at waist. V-shaped at lower edges of center front and back. Inside seams finished with hand overcasting.
Woman's waist -- boned bodice with loose, decoratie folds with high neck and long sleeves-- of black lace and netting with ream-colored lace at neck and on sleeve cuffs. 3.5in high lace collar is supported by 2 thread-covered vertical stays. The top is edged with a band of orange velvet with a pleated light fabric stitched to it. The sleeve cuffs are also edged in orange velvet. This garment is lined with an ecrru-colored fabric. 6.5-7in stays/wood wrappedin string. mahcine stitched along center of stays. Length of front closure is 20' with 21 hooks and eyes from waist to neck. Inside ribbon at waist 23in. black Fabric sewn to waist, tapered at back with bottom tab folded up, attached to a stiff stay. Much of sheer lining is shattering at underarms, sleeves and neck. black fabric around front ends iwth 3 black fabric bows, 3 hooks close this. Sleeves (14in long) have a 1in wide black velvetband with a bow 3.5in above the cuff. Top neck, back and v-neck front lined with an undyed muslin rough basted to garment.
Brown silk bonnet with ties. 5 large pleats at top/at brim over back of bonnet, gathered at center back neckline. 4 pleats on both sides for even-looking pleats and gathers all along neckline edge. 5-inch wide flat matching bow sewn onto back at neckline. 6.5-inch wide brim/visor with two 2.5-inch wide dull green ribbon ties (21 inches long) sewn on each side of lower edge of brim.
Written in pencil on cardboard inside bonnet: "Lillah Ballunce 6-1869"
Inside of stiff brim lined with ivory mesh. 3 stiff paper pieces slipped between pleats for extra support. 3-inch wide piece of plastic mesh sewn around base of brim. White ribbon at center back of neck for gathering and trying to adjust size. Thin covered wire all around lower edge/neck and around entire brim. 2 wires also along interior edge of widest pleat, from top center to neckline.
