THE MET
Golden Brown Silk Dolman Cape with Fringe
Victorian Late / Bustle · 1870s-1880s · American
Production
ready-to-wear
Material
silk with fringe trim
Culture
American
Influences
Turkish dolman styling · Ottoman textile traditions
This dolman cape features a loose, draped silhouette characteristic of 1870s outerwear. The garment is constructed from golden-brown silk with an elaborate all-over floral or paisley pattern woven or printed into the fabric. The most striking feature is the extensive fringe trim that cascades from the shoulders, sleeves, and hem in long, twisted silk cords. The dolman's construction follows the period's preference for unstructured, flowing outer garments that could accommodate the era's voluminous skirts. The cape appears to fasten at the neck and drapes freely over the arms, creating the bat-wing silhouette typical of dolmans. The rich surface pattern and luxurious fringe treatment indicate this was a high-quality garment for fashionable wear.
capeloose fithip length
Connected To
Influences·Ottoman textile traditions
SHARED220 years · cross-culture · cross-category
These two pieces trace the long arc of Ottoman textile influence across continents and centuries. The Victorian cape's cascade of silk fringe and that particular burnished gold tone echo the luxurious passementerie that American women coveted from "exotic" Eastern sources, while the Syrian purse shows the actual wellspring—those intricate silk tassels and the way embroidered florals dance across the surface with an almost tactile richness.
Echoes Across Time
Victorian Late / Bustle → Baroque · 220yr66%
SHARED
These two pieces trace the long arc of Ottoman textile influence across continents and centuries. The Victorian cape's cascade of silk fringe and that particular burnished gold tone echo the luxurious passementerie that American women coveted from "exotic" Eastern sources, while the Syrian purse shows the actual wellspring—those intricate silk tassels and the way embroidered florals dance across the surface with an almost tactile richness.
Influences·Ottoman textile traditions
Victorian Late / Bustle → Baroque
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