Collar
Unknown Artist
ca. 1860
Medium
Linen
Classification
Collar
Culture
American
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. James H. Post, 1952
Accession Number
2009.300.4659
Art Historical Context
This delicate linen collar, crafted by an unknown American artist around 1860, offers a glimpse into mid-19th-century fashion from the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Acquired through the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection and gifted by Mrs. James H Post in 1952, it exemplifies the refined accessories that defined everyday elegance during a transformative era in American history. In the 1860s, amid the Civil War and rapid industrialization, detachable collars like this one were essential wardrobe staples. Made from crisp, breathable linen—a practical choice for its durabi...