Antique Victorian Black Mantle with French Jet Beading & Chantilly Lace
Condition: Very Good.
Size: S
Cape adorned with French jet beading.
Shoulders: 38cm
Length infront: 113cm
L behind with lace: 68cm.
This garment is an
antique Victorian mantle or cape, likely dating from the 1880s.
It features several characteristic elements of high-end Victorian mourning or evening outerwear:
- Design & Structure: This is a "visite" or "mantle," a type of outer garment designed to accommodate the voluminous bustles and silhouettes of the late 19th century. It has a structured collar, often with elaborate lace ruffles.
- Materials: It is typically constructed from black silk satin or grosgrain, often featuring woven patterns like the vertical stripes seen here.
- Embellishments: The garment is heavily decorated with Chantilly lace overlays and intricate jet beading or embroidery. The long, front-hanging panels are a hallmark of this era's mantle designs.
- Purpose: Given the all-black color and heavy embellishment, such pieces were often used for formal mourning attire or as elegant evening wraps.