Bidspirit auction | Late Victorian Black Silk Damask

Late Victorian Black Silk Damask and Jet Beaded Mantle - This garment is a late Victorian mantle or capelet, commonly referred to as a visite, dating to approximately the 1880s to 1890s. It is constructed from a heavy black silk damask featuring a woven floral and foliate scroll pattern. The piece is extensively embellished with black machine-made lace, likely in the Chantilly style, and intricate jet-coloured glass beadwork. The structure features a short, shaped back designed to accommodate the bustle of the period, extending into long, trailing panels or lappets at the front. No original Victorian maker's labels are present.