|
Country: United States, possibly Pennsylvania
Quaker origins.
Materials: Pale gray silk satin, ivory
china silk lining, silk ribbons. Gray silk used on the hood has a pinkish tone.
Provenance: Ann Bolton Booth, originally
from Chestertown, MD, and then later from Philadelphia, PA.
Label: Small paper label pinned to cloak
dated 1791.
Measurements:
Hood opening, 42"; center back L. beginning
at base of hood, 18"; hem circumference of cloak, 120"; W. of squared
off ends of cloak, 10".
Condition: Silk fabric is excellent,
no holes or tears. There are a few stains mostly brown and nearly all in the
lining; there is one 2" x 3/8" black vertical stain at the lower right
exterior panel of the cloak.
Comments: In Sharon Ann Burnston's
book, Fitting and Proper, an identical 18th c. cloak to this one is
pictured and described on page 32. In putting forth her reasons for theorizing
that the cloak has Quaker origins, the author states, "the piecing of the
cloak shows the (Quakers) thrifty use of costly fabric in cutting oddly shaped
garments." This cloak is a rare surviving example of late 18th century
woman's outerwear.
|