1788208

Finely Embroidered Antique Christening Cape #1788208

Currency:USD Category:Clothing, Shoes & Accessories / Vintage Start Price:50.00 USD Estimated At:0.00 USD
Finely Embroidered Antique Christening Cape  #1788208
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Among the most treasured family heirlooms are christening clothes: the long dresses often called robes (although they're lightweight and lacy) and the capes or mantles worn over them to keep the new baby warm enough. This English mantle is a spectacular example of the latter, most likely 19th century Victorian and certainly no later than Edwardian. Although at least 100 years old, it's in marvelous condition, a clear testament to how greatly it was prized.



Christening mantles have been fashioned since the 18th century, when they replaced enormous "bearing cloths" so long and heavy with sumptuous decoration that it took a team of ladies to carry them into the church. The attendants followed along behind the godmother, who held the child wrapped in one end of it. Although that custom ended, the desire to dress the baby like a prince or princess didn't. Parents wanted their precious little ones to make their debuts before God and society in the most lavish mantles they could afford.


This one meets all the traditional criteria for excellence: luxurious white and off-white fabrics, meticulous hand-stitching and beautiful embellishments. Fine embroidery adorns both its large scalloped cape collar and the smaller one at the neck, and two rows of pintucked pleats add dimension all around the voluminous hemline. The cape is almost as lovely inside as out, lined with whiter material including long gores of shimmering shantung silk just inside the front opening. ...
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<td>Reference
#: CHRISTENINGCAPE</td>
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<tr><td>Condition:Very Fine</td></tr>
<tr><td>Year:Pre-1910, Most Likely 19th Century</td></tr>
<tr><td>Country:England</td></tr>





<tr><td>Title:Finely Embroidered Antique Christening Cape </td></tr>
<tr><td>Style:Antique - Victorian - Edwardian</td></tr>

<tr><td>Type:Cape - Mantle - Robe</td></tr>
<tr><td>Location:Albuquerque, NM</td></tr>
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