Accessory set

Art Historical Context

In the opulent world of late 19th-century American fashion, *Accessory Set* by C. G. Gunther's exemplifies the era's obsession with luxury and status. Crafted between 189 and 1899 from sumptuous fur and silk, set—likely including items like a muff, stole, or collar—iled from one of New York's premier furriers, renowned for sourcing the finest pelts and tailoring them for elite clientele. During the Gilded Age, accessories were essential for fashionable women attending social events, blending practicality with extravagance amid New York's booming garment district. Fur's prominence in this period underscored its cultural cachet as a symbol of wealth, often imported from Europe or trapped domestically, while silk added a tactile sheen of refinement. Gunther's Sons mastered techniques like precise fur dressing and seaming to ensure durability and drape, techniques that elevated accessories from mere warmth-providers to statement pieces. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, this gift from the Brooklyn Museum highlights evolving preservation efforts for ephemeral fashion artifacts. Today, it offers a tactile glimpse into how Americans navigated modernity through adornment, reminding us of fashion's role in projecting power and poise.

About the Artist

C. G. Gunther's Sons · 1820–1820

C. G. Gunther's Sons, an esteemed American fashion house founded in 1820, emerged as a premier maker of luxury garments during the 19th century, particularly renowned for their exquisite fur accessories and outerwear. Established in New York City, the firm traced its roots to Christian G. Gunther, a German immigrant whose expertise in furriery laid the foundation for a family enterprise that cater...