Embroidered Silk Satin Braces
ca. 1860 and ca. 1890s

Men’s braces of the nineteenth century were often highly decorative accessories. Both of these pairs are embroidered in silk thread on satin grounds, primarily in satin stitch, with stylized florals and foliage on asymmetric, meandering stems. One pair features flowers in delicate shades of blue and green on cream (ca. 1860), while the other features flowers in shades of pink and green on pale gray (ca. 1890s). On the latter pair, the filigreed brass slides are stamped on the front with the date “1889” and on the back with the maker’s name, “Wilson Bros.”

Two pairs of delicately embroidered nineteenth century men’s braces, made by the American firm, Wilson Brothers. Like the men’s waistcoats of the period, these are highly decorative and would have complemented the richly patterned, colorful waistcoats with which they would have been worn. These lively examples, one in pale blue with polychrome thread, the other in cream satin, are patterned with blooming flowers on asymmetric, meandering stems. On the former, the delicacy of the embroidery is nicely offset by white leather straps and filigreed brass slides. Its slides are also stamped, “1889” on the front and “Wilson Bro. Make” on verso.

$450 / $350
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Embroidered Ivory Satin Wallet
English, ca. 1780

This elegant wallet, or letter case as they were known in the eighteenth century, conveys the luxuriousness of wealthy women’s accessories. The delicate, entwined floral trail and oval medallion enclosing the initials “F.P.” are embroidered in gold metallic purl and sequins, crimson and gold foil, and faceted glass; tiny false pearls surround the metal clasp. On the back, a single stylized flower-head with swirling floral sprigs is also worked in purl, sequins, foil, and pearls. These types of accessories were often made by women of the leisure classes and attested to their embroidery skills. In 1779, Queen Charlotte presented Mary Delany with a pocket case that she described as “…most beautiful…the outside white sattin work’d with gold, and ornamented with gold spangles.”

$2,500
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Embroidered Sweet Meat Purse
English, early 17th c.

Small purses, often called sweet meat bags, were given as tokens of affection by ladies of the leisure class. This example, embroidered in polychrome silk thread with metallic-wrapped thread and sequin details, shows a variety of motifs against an ivory satin ground. Each side is densely covered with florals including a pansy, a cornflower, a rose, a carnation, and a lily; foliage, a fruiting tree, animals and insects—including a crouching rabbit and a squirrel eating a nut on mosswork mounds, butterflies, a bird, and a caterpillar—complete the whimsical composition. The sweet meat purse closes with a green silk cord drawstring with green & silver metallic thread tassels, and is embellished with three small silver metallic thread tassels at the lower edge.

Satin Shoes with Ribbon Ties
American, ca. 1815-1825

Ladies Knitted and Embroidered Silk Stockings
English, first half of the 18th c.

Finely-knit blue silk stockings, with polychrome long-and-short stitch shaded silk floss embroidery on each side of the stockings. Salmon, ivory and blue stripes finish each end; seamed down center back and under heel and arch. A similar pair of stockings are seen in Nancy Bradfield, Costume in Detail (1997), p. 8.

Condition: Some small holes and minor repairs.

SOLD

Ladies Knitted and Embroidered Silk Stockings
English, first half of the 18th c.

An integral part of the fashionable eighteenth century woman's costume, the stomacher filled in the front opening of the dress, accentuating the narrow, pointed waistline in vogue during the period. Cream-colored linen serves as a neutral ground for lustrous yellow silk embroidery; the carnations and other exotic flowers were most likely inspired by Indian painted cottons and embroideries, and the vermiculated pattern is typical of Queen Anne period needlework.

$3,000

A Collection of Fancy Silver Buckles
American or British, ca. 1780

Buckles replaced ties as the fastening for shoes in the 1740s. They were made from a variety of materials such as steel, gilded brass or silver, and were generally rectangular, square or oval in shape. Silver buckles were often cast and then chased to add details. Buckles such as these could have been worn by women or men.