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Braces
 

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 Silk Satin Braces
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Ribbons  
  Art Deco Brocaded Ribbons  

Art Deco Brocaded Ribbons
French, 1920s

Dazzling cubist-inspired patterns adorn each brocaded ribbon. These modernist ribbons would enhance any collection of early 20th century design. Each design is available in several different color ways. Sold by the yard; please inquire for availability, prices or photographs of additional color ways.

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Purses and Wallets

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.”

4" H x 6 " W

$2,500
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Satin Wallet
Click on image for details
 

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.

4" H x 4.5" W
Price on Request
  Click image for view of reverse
Shoes    
  Satin Slipper Shoes, early 19th c.

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

Thin-soled slipper shoes were the most prevalent type of feminine footwear worn in the early 19th century. Ribbon ties, wound around the ankles, first appeared in the late 1790s in imitation of classical sandals. These shoes of taupe colored silk satin and taffeta ribbons have a low, curved stacked leather heel which is typical of heels in the 1820s.

Click here for detail view

Provenance: From the estate of Mrs. Wrenn, descending from the Brinton, Pucy and Hazard families of Chester County, Pennsylvania.

SOLD

 

Silk Moiré Bridal Shoes
English, 1782

Brocaded Silk Shoes, early 18th c.


The fashionable eighteenth century women's shoe was a frankly luxurious and feminine accessory. Ladies of quality wore shoes of rich dress silks which might, but did not necessarily, match their gowns. Made as "straights," that is without a designated left or right, the shoes conformed to the shape of the foot. The pale blue moiré is complimented by ivory silk satin-bound heels and latchets. A note attached to one shoe reads: "Bride's shoe (paste buckles missing). Worn at her wedding by Catharine Quested(?) in October 1782."

$3,500
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Stockings
 

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

  Embroidered Stockings - click for detail
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Stomachers    
  Embroidered Linen Stomacher - click for detail
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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

     
Buckles
 

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.

 
Silver Buckles, 18th c. - click for details
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