LADY'S CLOAK

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.