#7345 $295
Devoré velvet mantle, 1880s
Late Victorian mantles were cut shorter in back to accommodate the popular bustle styles of the period. The back "tail" added decoration to the top of the bustle. The mantle is fashioned from black velvet cut to a ground of tan cotton denim-like twill. It closes in front with hooks. I love the cheerful daisy pattern.
What a great piece for a beginning collector! The unaltered shape, an exemplar for the period, displays beautifully. As a labeled piece, the price would be $500-$550.
The condition is excellent.
It measures: 34" bust, 25" center-front length, and 20 1/2" center-back length to the bottom of "the tail."
