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Image Not Available for Woman's Cape
Woman's Cape
Image Not Available for Woman's Cape

Woman's Cape

Clothing MakerMade by Shakers American
Dateabout 1875-1900
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched wool, silk, and cotton, with a brass hook and eye
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length, including hood x hem circumference): 64 1/2 x 118 1/2in. (163.8 x 301cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
DescriptionWoman's blue superfine wool hooded cape. The cape is constructed in the traditional eighteenth-century style of a cardinal cloak: the body is pleated into the neckline, and a short cape covers the shoulders. The fullness of the hood is stitched into fanned-out pleats at the center back. The cape is ankle-length; it has no armholes. The center front opening fastens with a large brass hook and eye at the base of the neck. The hood is lined with blue-gray silk; the area of pleating at the base of the neck is interlined with blue and white woven cotton plaid under the silk lining. The edges of the front opening are lined with strips of self-fabric. The seams of the cape are machine sewn; the cut edges are very finely hand-stitched to the underside of the wool so that the stitches do not show on the front. Originally, there were ribbon ties at the front neckline, but these have been torn off.
Object number1988.185.0
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
    Lydia C. Robinson
    1841, with later alteration
    Front of dress without the matching cape.
    Lyle N. Roapelye
    about 1885
    Woman's Cloak
    Unknown
    about 1770-1800
    Gift of Mrs. Howard B. Haylett, 1956.58.8a-c, Connecticut Historical Society, Public Domain
    Dr. Julia Emily Skinner
    about 1880
    Front with cape on.
    Unknown
    about 1836-1840
    Gift of Charles S. MacDonough, 1847.12.0  © 2008 The Connecticut Historical Society.
    Commodore Thomas MacDonough
    1812-1814
    Dress
    Mary Jane Buel
    about 1855-1860
    Mary Elizabeth Smith
    about 1903-1905