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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 Unknown
Dateabout 1882-1890
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk, with silk braid and fringe, silk-covered wooden (probably) buttons, a brass hook and eye, and cotton wadding
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (center back length x width across bottom): 32 x 44 1/2in. (81.3 x 113cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Helen D. Perkins
DescriptionWoman's cape of ivory silk matelasse, woven with a design of curving fronds. The cape has a turn-down collar, edged with silk braid which is woven with intervals of crinkled silk ribbon fringe. A 2 1/2-inch-wide ivory moire ribbon is stitched on the proper left side of the neckline at the opening. (There was probably another ribbon on the right side, but it is now missing.) The center front opening fastens with plain ivory silk-covered buttons within a hidden placket and with a brass hook and eye at the base of the neckline. The cape is cut with a square bottom edge in the back, and it is vented at the center back for 7 3/4 inches. The proper right side of the opening edge, continuing around the bottom edge of the cape, is trimmed with the braid and crinkled ribbon fringe. Quilted ivory silk lines the cape. It is machine-quilted in parallel diagonal lines.
Object number1984.94.33
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
    Front of dress without the matching cape.
    Lyle N. Roapelye
    about 1885
    Gift of the Wethersfield Historical Society, 1990.26.6  © 2013 The Connecticut Historical Socie…
    Charlotte Lee
    about 1880-1885
    Bodice of dress, removed from skirt.
    Unknown
    about 1855-1860
    Dress
    Mary Jane Buel
    about 1855-1860
    Ribbon
    Whitehead and Hoag Company
    Patented 1892-1893
    Woman's Cape
    Arnold Constable & Co.
    about 1880-1885
    Gift of Mariette Newman Fitch, 1952.69.16  © 2009 The Connecticut Historical Society.
    Unknown
    about 1865
    Dress
    Abigail Weaver
    about 1860
    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
    Front of dress with one petticoat
    Unknown
    about 1905-1915