I just realized when listing this charming little dress that I have another pink child’s dress also listed – I must like pink for little girls! This quintessential summer dress is bubble-gum pink and was hand-made in the mid-19th c. It has short puffy sleeves with white soutache trim. This trim continues in the front of this dress and along the bottom of the skirt which has two horizontal fold to provide visual interest. The seam at the bodice and skirt has self-piping – a mark of early, good-quality garments. I believe the 5 mother-of-pearl buttons are original. The bodice is lined in muslin and the neckline has a hemmed fold through which the original pulls/ties to gather the neckline are still present, although one pull has come through an area where the hem of the channel  has come undone (see photo). There are a few pinhead holes and some small scattered light stains (see photos). There is a ¾” tear at the back of the dress below the soutache which is shown in the photo with a straight pin to indicate size.