Black silk velvet mantle with cording

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A black silk velvet mantle with cording. The mantel (a) opens in the center front with a narrow panel sewn along the proper left side. A two inch wide collar is sewn along the neckline of the mantel and closes with two sets of metal hooks and eyes. The mantel closes with three large metal eyes on the proper left side with a detached hook on the center eye. Two large metal hooks are sewn on the proper right side. The manel has three quarter length sleeves with elongated armscyes. The bottoms of the armscyes are left open, with a nine inch rectangular tab. Cotton and silk cording is sewn in undulating lines along the shoulder, the bottom of each sleeve, the mantel tails, the center back, and bottom back hem. Wooden bobbles covered in black fabric and cording are sewn along the cotton and silk cording. The mantel tails start to narrow towards the bottom. The back of the mantel has a center back seam and a pair of side back seams. One panel of fabric is used for each side back panel and back sleeve panel. The center back seam transitions into a four inch vent at the hem. The back of the mantel is more heavily adorned than the front. The mantel is lined with quilted silk cotton blend satin. The collar is faced brown cotton canvas. A single welted pocket is sewn on the interior of the proper right front panel. A self fabric waist tie is sewn along the back panels of the mantel. The proper left side of the tie is broken off. A band of lining along the collar (b) has become detached. A woven fabric label is sewn along the center of the band which reads [B. Altman Co. / New York].

Catalog date

1880s

Recorded places

New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America

Recorded subjects

African American; Clothing and dress; Fashion

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