Dating Help?
No, not that kinda of dating. I'm not single...but...my grandma gifted me this beautiful vintage coat and I'd love to know more about it. If anyone out there reading would like to venture their guesses/theories on more about it, I would be forever grateful. All that I know was that it was gifted to her by someone who didnt' know what to do with it, and thus it has passed to me. Its obviously vintage/antique. Everybit of stitching that I can get to is hand-done (the lining is stiched in by hand, the lapels are stitched onto the jacket by hand, etc, you get the point). Its a full length coat, in black velvet, lined in a grey floral damask. I'm not sure if the velvet is silk/cotton/other, but i'm pretty certain its natural fiber, and if forced to guess I'd say silk. From the way the lining is dryrotting, i kinda think its silk, too. Its got absolutely stunning embroidery in black thread down the lapels, around the botton about a foot wide, and would have it on the cuffs if they weren't removed (I'd guess the embroidery threads are silk or linen--leaning towards linen) . I don't know if its actually a coat, or if its more a dressing gown? I'm open to speculation. This is not the time period I usually do...I'd like to tinker in later periods, but haven't got around to doing any research on them....
coat front
This tag shows the maker. From what little I could find online, Hutzler Brothers was a department store founded in MD in 1858. I think they stayed open til the 1960's, so I'm not sure where in that span this particular garment would fit in. See how the tag is hand-herringbone stitched into the lining? The little things make me wiggle in pure glee!
manufacturer
And just for eyecandy, here are a few detail shots:
collarback
bottom embroidery--This has this lovely embroidery all over the bottom. The wider tapey strips are some sort of thick braid/ribbon. The embroidery is a wonderful tutorial for my upcoming embroidery projects: it uses grids, french knots, herringbones, fishscale and stem stitches, and others that i don't know the names of. Its truly eyecandy. If I had the heart to disassemble it, this bottom would be made into a cape for hubby (doesn't it look like one of the janet arnold cloaks?--the red one with yellow appliques in a similar motif?). But no, i don't have the heart.
here's an adorable detail: Check out the pocket inside:
I am so going to try this in something I make. Isn't it pretty? I mean, if you can even make an inside pocket pretty.... *wistful sigh*
So, as lovely as this would be incorporated into a renfest costume, well, I just couldn't bear it. Here's the kicker: the coat FITS me. *jumps up and down*. The lining is sadly majorly ripped and suffering from dry rot....so I'm kinda thinking I might make a new lining for it. The velvet has a few patches where the pile is worn down/off, mostly around the bottom hem. The sleeve cuffs were unfortunately sacrificed to some project before my grandma got the coat--it came with one detached cuff. From the one I have, it would've looked like this:
unattached cuff
That's all for now. More fabric/costuming gifts to be featured soon....
coat front
This tag shows the maker. From what little I could find online, Hutzler Brothers was a department store founded in MD in 1858. I think they stayed open til the 1960's, so I'm not sure where in that span this particular garment would fit in. See how the tag is hand-herringbone stitched into the lining? The little things make me wiggle in pure glee!
manufacturer
And just for eyecandy, here are a few detail shots:
collarback
bottom embroidery--This has this lovely embroidery all over the bottom. The wider tapey strips are some sort of thick braid/ribbon. The embroidery is a wonderful tutorial for my upcoming embroidery projects: it uses grids, french knots, herringbones, fishscale and stem stitches, and others that i don't know the names of. Its truly eyecandy. If I had the heart to disassemble it, this bottom would be made into a cape for hubby (doesn't it look like one of the janet arnold cloaks?--the red one with yellow appliques in a similar motif?). But no, i don't have the heart.
here's an adorable detail: Check out the pocket inside:
I am so going to try this in something I make. Isn't it pretty? I mean, if you can even make an inside pocket pretty.... *wistful sigh*
So, as lovely as this would be incorporated into a renfest costume, well, I just couldn't bear it. Here's the kicker: the coat FITS me. *jumps up and down*. The lining is sadly majorly ripped and suffering from dry rot....so I'm kinda thinking I might make a new lining for it. The velvet has a few patches where the pile is worn down/off, mostly around the bottom hem. The sleeve cuffs were unfortunately sacrificed to some project before my grandma got the coat--it came with one detached cuff. From the one I have, it would've looked like this:
unattached cuff
That's all for now. More fabric/costuming gifts to be featured soon....
posted by Julebug | 10:07 PM
3 Comments:
Oh Julie, wow. That's just amazing. No, I can't say that I have any idea where in the timespan that fits in, but I do know that I think it looks like something one would wear over an evening gown for a night out. And when I say "one" I really mean "you." You'd better be planning to wear it! And wouldn't you please please pretty please put up a picture of it with you in it? 'Cause I'd love to see it on. Love the details, love the pockets, love the embroidery....I could babble longer obviously. Wow.
Thanks! Believe, me, I desperately wanted a pic of me in it, but hubby was nowhere to be found and the self taken pics didn't do it justice. Now worries, I'll take better pics, and you can play with it the next time you're here. :) Provided I can fondle your sparklies. That sounds kinda bad outta context, eh?
Yes that does sound a bit odd :)
What a marvelous coat! I have no idea of the date though. When I get around to posting again on LJ I'll link to it and see if anyone on my f-list knows anything about it :)
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