LADY'S CLOAK

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Overview

Part of the Ray Paynter Collection.

Black woman's cloak, worn as a shawl covering shoulders and upper torso.
Constructed of black silk over black stiffening, overlayed with black lace, black sequins, black ribbon,
Collar hand stitched onto stiffening.
Very damaged lace around the neck and very deteriorated silk fabric along its bottom edge.
Ribbons hand stitched into several ornate shapes, may have originally been bows which have now come loose.

The main body of the cloak is covered by a mixture of lace and black sequins attached to the black silk via a fine synthetic mesh. The bottom of the cloack also features black lace with folded ribbin again used to cover the seam. The inner lining of the cloak is black silk, ad features a hook and eye catch at the front.

The body of the cloak was constructed with a sewing machine, with the lacework on the edges sewn on by hand using white and tan thread.

The cloak is complete, fragile, with the lacework frayed and torn, especially around the upper collar. The lacework on the collar and the ribbon on the front is also coming away. The overall condition is good and redeemable. The visual condition is good to excellent.

Historical information

Victorian era, possibly worn as part of mourning attire.
Formerly owned by Dawn Atwell of Toodyay

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-37-2011.3

Item type

Objects

Width

980 mm

Height or length

600 mm

Inscriptions and markings

Ray Paynter Collection

Contextual Information

On 8 September 2010, Beth Frayne aproached the Museum Curator on behalf of Mrs. Ray Paynter, offering six items in Mrs. Paynter's possession. These were 19th/20th century textiles originally from the estate of Ms. Dawn Atwell. Mrs. Paynter had expressed her belief that the items in question would be afforded better protection and care as part of the museum collection. (They have now been incorporated into the Shire of Toodyay's museum collection under accession numbers 2011.1 - 2011.6 inclusive.)

Noted by Textile conservator Rinske Car in 2012: "Victorian black silk and lace shoulder cape. Beaded and adorned all over with folded ribbons."

Statement of significance

The provenance of the Ray Paynter collection is between 1880 to 1940 and is related to the femail line of several historic Toodyay families.
The earliest association of these items (likely the hand-made lace and possibly the cloak) is with Catherine Quinn, an Irish needlewoman who worked for Mr. Chidlow at Northam. Catherine later married James Butterly and gave birth to Clara (also known in some records as Sarah Butterly) who wore the wedding dress and shoes when she married Henry Davey.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Shire of Toodyay

Organisation Details
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