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Woman's Cape

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Charlotte Lee

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)

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

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