Mantle
Unknown Artist
late 1860s
Medium
wool, silk
Classification
Mantle
Culture
American
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of A. Hyatt Mayor, 1959
Accession Number
C.I.59.56.4
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of late 1860s American with this exquisite *Mantle*, a captivating piece from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume. Crafted from luxurious wool and silk by an unknown artist, this garment—likely a woman's cloak or shawl—exemplifies the era's blend of practicality and elegance. Donated as a gift from A. Hyatt Mayor in1959, it offers a tangible glimpse into post-Civil War society, when such mantles were essential for modest yet stylish daytime or evening wear. The combination of wool and silk highlights innovative textile techniques of the time: wool provided war...