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Gift of the Wethersfield Historical Society, 1990.26.6  © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Socie…
Woman's Cape
Gift of the Wethersfield Historical Society, 1990.26.6 © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Society. Note: Image has been lightened to show pattern of velvet.

Woman's Cape

Clothing MakerMade by Unknown
Dateabout 1880-1885
MediumHand-stitched silk, with silk chenille and glass bead fringe, metal hooks and eyes, and machine-made silk lace
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length): 37in. (94cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of the Wethersfield Historical Society
DescriptionBlack voided velvet dolman cape, with black silk machine-made lace at the neck. The cape fastens for the length of the center front with hooks and eyes. Decorative lengths of black velvet ribbon are stitched along the top half of the opening; these ribbons are trimmed with black chenille fringe ending with a loop of black beads. This chenille fringe trims the bottom edge of the cape and the arm openings. The cape is cut with a dolman-type sleeve, the opening gathered up and decorated with lace, velvet ribbon, and chenille fringe. There are no side seams. The center back of the cape is pleated up into the center back seam, to form a bustle. The cape is lined with silvery gray satin. A black grosgrain ribbon stitched at the waist of the lining would tie around the body to keep the cape closely fitted.
Object number1990.26.6
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
    Woman's Cape
    Arnold Constable & Co.
    about 1880-1885
    Front of dress without the matching cape.
    Lyle N. Roapelye
    about 1885
    Front with cape on.
    Unknown
    about 1836-1840
    Dress
    Charlotte Lee
    1880-1885
    Dress
    Celia Stanley
    about 1870-1875
    Gift of Charles S. MacDonough, 1847.12.0  © 2008 The Connecticut Historical Society.
    Commodore Thomas MacDonough
    1812-1814
    Mary Elizabeth Smith
    about 1903-1905
    Dress
    Mary Jane Buel
    about 1855-1860