Christening cape
Category
Costume
Date
circa 1800 - circa 1899
Materials
Wool, cotton, silk and feather down
Measurements
900 mm (length)
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 667557
Summary
A cream wool baby's 'carrying' cloak that has been turned into a coat - sleeves are a later addition (probably 19th century). It is decorated with cream embroidered flowers and leaves. It fastens at the front with six cream ribbon ties, one of which is missing. On the outside is a shoulder cape embroidered with flowers and leaves. It is lined with cream silk and trimmed with white feather down. There is also a collar, embroidered with leaves, also trimmed with white feather down. The inner longer cape has sleeves and is lined with cream silk at the front edges and cream cotton elsewhere. The bodice is lined with cream cotton. The embroidery could possibly be Chinese. On the left-hand front edge there is evidence of the wool having been eaten by some insect. The cream cotton lining displays iron mould.