Textiles and Stuff 

VICTORIAN BABY'S CARRYING CAPE IN FINE WOOL This is a delightful cape for a baby, probably for a christening, in a very fine cream wool fabric. It has a shoulder cape and collar attached and is fully lined. It is decorated with a design of flowers and leaves in silk chain stitch with silk appliqué centres to the flowers and leaves . It has been fastened with corded ribbon ties, but may have had a tape round the neck in a casing at one time. The edges of the collar, shoulder cape and main garment are trimmed with silk braid of the same shade. This is a beautiful period garment, very typical of its time. The fabric is in excellent condition and it could be worn or displayed to advantage.

This is a beautiful example of an early 19th Century baby’s bonnet, probably dating from the 1830s. It is made of very fine cotton and has a frill round the back of the neck and a treble frill round the brim, both with a very fine narrow hem. The crown has four channels for drawstrings to adjust the fit, all of which are still visible. There is also a drawstring at the back of the neck. The bonnet also has ties of cotton fabric which may be later. The crown is gathered on to a circular piece of white-work embroidery, with a tiny flowers and a larger one in the centre, the centres of which are executed in very fine needlepoint. The whole bonnet is worked by hand. The only damage I can find is a small brown stain on the frill near the fastening, which can be seen in the photograph and a tiny slit in the frill just beside it. Apart from this the bonnet is in excellent condition. This is a lovely little bonnet, very typical of its period, with the fastenings at the top of the crown and would make a good example for a collection.

CENTRAL ASIAN PATCHWORK QUILT This is a good example of a quilt from Central Asia, probably from Usbekistan or Kirghizistan. It is made mainly from cotton, cut in strips and put together in a style similar to Log Cabin. The squares in the middle of the sections are made of silk velvet or heavy cotton in dark red, dark green and brown. The pile on these squares run in different directions and so give an impression of colour variation in the photographs. In one corner of the quilt the small triangular pieces are made of an orange chintz instead of the white fabric in the rest of it. The edge is finished with a strip of orange cotton. The back is lined with a floral cotton which probably originated in Russia. This is a fascinating piece of ethnic work and illustrates how designs travelled many miles round the world and turn up in unexpected places.

VINTAGE PIECE OF TRADITIONAL MUD CLOTH FROM MALI This is a vintage piece of Mud cloth or Bogolanfini from Mali in West Africa. It was traditionally made by women and the fabric was made of ten handwoven narrow strips of cotton cloth which are stitched together before dyeing. The designs are made with a combination of local plant dyes and river mud which contains the essential chemicals to create the colour. They were worn as garments and often conferred status. The mud cloth is in good sturdy condition but there are a few holes, the largest being near the edge at the bottom and visible in the last photo. There are a three other smaller ones also in the bottom section of the cloth. This is not a modern piece and had had some use, and it is difficult for me to be precise about its date. Ref 6752 I send all goods by Royal Mail first class signed for delivery.

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY BABY'S COTTON VEST This is a lovely and fairly rare example of an eighteenth century baby’s vest in very fine soft cotton. It is made in the traditional way, with square cut sleeves with a diamond shaped gusset at the underarm. The sleeves are slightly gathered at the shoulder. The neck edge is decorated with very fine Valenciennes lace, in a swirling design. The chest measurement is 17 3/4 inches and the length from the top of the shoulder to the hem is 11 inches. There are a few small brown marks on the garment, the principal one being at the top of the sleeve, and this can be seen in the photograph. There are also some areas of damage in the lace the edge is slightly frayed in some areas and the lace has become detached from the neckedge just at the shoulder seam area on one side. There is also a small slit in the lace in the left front neck area. There are two small holes in the fabric, one at the bottom of the right front and the other a small slit in the chest area of the left front. I have not washed the vest which is cream in colour, or attempted to restore it in any way. This is a good example of a vest of the period and the amount of damage slight in consideration of its age.

This is a set of uncut edgings for a Chinese robe worked on a background of dark blue silk. It is embroidered in couched work in shades of gold, green, red, turquoise and old gold in a design of floral sprays, with solid segments for the collar. The borders are approximately 3 1/2 inches wide and the whole piece measures 30 x 21 inches. The colours are very bright and fresh. The whole piece is in excellent condition.

This is a good quality handkerchief of the Victorian era, in a very fine cotton fabric, decorated with an inset band and a frill round the edge of Valenciennes lace. It has the initials of the owner, G N, embroidered on one corner. The handkerchief measures 16 inches (41.5 cms.) square and is cream in colour. There are a few very small brownish age marks, but there are no repairs and overall it is in very good condition. Postage I send all goods by Royal Mail first class “signed for” delivery and insurance is included.

This is an unusual example of an antique embroidered handkerchief made of a very fine lawn with a border closely decorated with a string of whitework flowers and leaves and sprays of smaller flowers on the inner side..There is a set of initials in one corner, EMD. The handkerchief is in good condition, but there is one area where there is a small slit, and also some thinness in the threads in one area. which can be seen in the photographs. Some of the connecting bars are repaired and a few are missing.

This is a beautifully embroidered bonnet from Czechoslovakia, probably a wedding bonnet, made of linen and embroidered all over in brightly coloured wool and silk threads. The motifs are the traditional flowers and leaves in shades of predominantly reds, orange and pink, with outlines in dark green, black and brown. The colours are clear and bright. The bonnet is lined with cotton. The brim is trimmed with bobbin lace and round the neck edge is a row of loose buttonhole stitch, probably for a draw string. The bonnet shows some signs of wear and there are a couple of very small areas with moth damage, but this is a good example of traditional costume from Eastern Europe and would be a welcome addition to any collection.

An early 20th Century evening dress in cream ikat silk with an all over design of black spheres, by Marshall and Snelgrove, Stockport. It has a scooped neckline which is trimmed with green ribbon with a bow, and this trim is echoed on the main part of the dress, bordering the pleated frills. The sleeves are pleated and in layers. There is an added apron at the waist and the back of the dress has a long fishtail lined in grey silk. There are no side openings and the garment slips on over the head. The only damage to the garment is some weakness and slits in the fabric in the underarm area and a small hole on the front of the bodice which has been repaired. These are not very noticeable when the dress is displayed and do not detract from its appearance. However I feel this stunning garment is one for display rather than wear owing to its age and fragility in some areas. This is a most unusual design from a very well known store.

This is a dress from the very late 19th Century, the Pre-Raphaelite or Arts and Crafts period, in a mediaeval style. It is made of a ribbed terra cotta silk and the front panel is of a much paler pink lightweight silk. It is possible in view of the design of this front panel that this might be a maternity dress. The inner dress is boned and fastens with buttons down the centre front and this is concealed under the free flowing front panel which fastens at the shoulder and down the sleeve line with hooks and eyes. The sleeves are in the gigot or “leg of mutton” style just coming into fashion at this time with very fully gathered tops and tightly fitting lower sections fastening with three fabric covered buttons and loops. The back of the dress is close fitting in the bodice area and has a train which fits into the curved seam of the yoke. The train is long and flowing and the hem is trimmed on the underside with three rows of bobbin lace. The bodice and cuffs are decorated with an applied floral braid of silk and metallic thread, which I think may be a later addition and could be easily removed if desired. Also the inner bodice has been altered in that the side darts have been opened and extra fabric inserted, as can be seen in the photo. There was some damage in the buttonhole band which has been repaired and also at top of the bodice where it adjoins the sleeve but this has been neatly repaired and is not visible when the front panel is in place. There is some staining on the edge of the train at one side . This is a very striking garment of a type seldom seen. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email if you need any more details or photographs. Postage By Special Delivery in the U.K. would be £11, and by Airsure to Europe, £23, and to the U.S., Canada, Australia and Asia, £35. These all include insurance. Ref 6790

A most unusual and rare pair of 19th Century sandal boots, or Barrettes, which date from the 1870s. They are made of dark blue leather, bound with silk of a lighter blue and fastening with three spherical metal buttons into buttonholes from each side. At the top of the boot there is a flap which fastens with a hook and eye and conceals the top button. The sandals are lined with cream kid, the sole is leather and the heels are of a stacked leather type. The sandals have seen quite a bit of wear. There is a little scuffing of the leather and the silk binding has worn away in some places, and one of the buttons is held in place with fine wire, but in view of their age and amount of use, they are in good condition. In their time these barrettes must have been the height of fashion, even a little daring, and were worn to show off coloured stockings, perhaps in a sporty environment or at the beach. They would make a most unusual addition to a collection. POSTAGE By Royal Mail Special Delivery or Airsure and insurance is included in the postal charge. I will always combine items for posting if you are making more than one purchase.