Cape thumbnail 1
Not on display

Cape

ca. 1895 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Black cockerel feathers and green pheasant feathers have been used to fashion this dramatic cape of the 1890s. The artificially curled feathers are mounted onto cotton fabric and the whole cape is lined with black silk satin. The cape would have been worn over large leg of mutton sleeves which were popular at this time. These would have further reinforced the winged shoulder of the cape. The general effect of such an outfit, worn with high heels, would have made the wearer cut quite an imposing figure.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Artificially curled rooster and pheasant feathers stitched to cotton fabric, lined with silk satin
Brief description
Elbow length cape of curled feathers stitched to cotton, made by Auguste Champot, France, ca. 1895
Physical description
Elbow length cape with a raised neckline, square cut back and waist-length lappets down the front. Feathers of two species, which have been artificially curled, have been mounted onto cotton fabric. The cape is lined with black silk satin. Hook and eye fastening at the front. Cockerell feathers (Gallus gallus domesticus) edge the entire cape. They are denser at the shoulders giving a wing-like effect. The shorter feathers are pheasant (Phasianus sp.). They could be either Green Pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) or the melanistic form of Common or Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchius).
Dimensions
  • Height: 500mm
  • Width: 760mm
  • Depth: 500mm
Dims when mounted.
Marks and inscriptions
'Auguste Champot / 18, Rue de la Michodière, Paris' (Makers label inside the cape, at centre back neck)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Mailin
Object history
RF number is 1968/1322.
Summary
Black cockerel feathers and green pheasant feathers have been used to fashion this dramatic cape of the 1890s. The artificially curled feathers are mounted onto cotton fabric and the whole cape is lined with black silk satin. The cape would have been worn over large leg of mutton sleeves which were popular at this time. These would have further reinforced the winged shoulder of the cape. The general effect of such an outfit, worn with high heels, would have made the wearer cut quite an imposing figure.
Bibliographic references
  • Kite, Marion, 'Feathers and Baleen, Two Keratin Materials Found in Textile Objects' in Conservation of Leathercraft and Related Objects (ICOM Committee for Conservation: 1993, vol II), pp. 645-650, fig.1
  • Johnston, Lucy, Marion Kite, Helen Persson, Richard Davis, and Leonie Davis. Nineteenth-century fashion in detail. No. Sirsi) i9781851774401. V & A Publications, 2005 (p. 112).
Collection
Accession number
T.84-1968

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Record createdJuly 27, 2005
Record URL
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