Cape

Art Historical Context

Step into the refined world of 19th-century fashion with this silk cape from the 1880s, housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Costume Institute.ed by an unknown artist possibly from American or European origins, the garment exemplifies the luxurious textiles that defined high society during the late Victorian era. Silk, prized its shimmering luster and draping qualities, was a hallmark of elite attire, often imported from Asia and woven into sumptuous fabrics that caught the light in candlelit ballrooms. In the 1880s, women's fashion emphasized dramatic silhouettes with bustles and fitted b...