Late 1920s to 1930s pale pink velvet cape with petal collar and ruching
A pretty little cape dating to the 1930s, from relatively local (to me) ‘draper, silk mercer and milliner’ Charles Pennington’s*.
In a pale pink velvet, with ruched section to neckline, and trimmed with little petal collar visiting of the pink velvet faced with eau de nil velvet.
the cape is lined in what feels like a silk taffeta? There is a single neckline fastening with button closure.
I did wonder if it was originally for a teen as quite a small neck if you fasten with hook and eye (see measurements) - but it does fit fine on an adult mannequin fastened with the neck strap as shown, and would look lovely worn over a bias cut gown.
Measures:
Neckline is 13” circ if fastened with hook and eye
Laid flat max width between shoulders is 20” (to include tops of arms)
Length from nape to hem approx 28”
Condition:
Generally very good
- there is some slight age darkening to the velvet on the edges of the leaves on the collar but it’s minimal. I’ve not had it cleaned as I’ve lost my independent cleaner to closure and am not risking anything pre 60s at the other!
It does otherwise appear clean, with no notable stains or marks to the lining aside from a very faint shade in some areas, and two small hanger stains inside the shoulder areas as shown
- There are a couple of very small worn spots (silk moth? Has been frozen!) as shown but as the fabric so shiny it’s not obvious. Photographed next to tape measure.
It could be worn as is or specialist dry cleaned
*The store was one of the premier in the region until the original grand store was bombed in 1941. If you are If a researching mind there is a lovely article here on a local history website :
https://www.heritagesouthholland.co.uk/2017/02/dressmakers-apprentice-penningtons-spalding/
