Cape 1900 - 1910

This "Cape," of undetermined date, was made by the House of Paquin, one of the leading Parisian fashion houses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fashion houses like Paquin were not merely clothing manufacturers, they were important cultural institutions that shaped and reflected the values, aspirations, and social hierarchies of their time. The House of Paquin catered to an elite clientele and its designs emphasized luxury and exclusivity. This cape’s intricate lace detailing, delicate embroidery, and use of fine materials speak volumes about the social conditions that enabled its creation. Consider, for instance, the labor involved in producing such a garment, the global networks through which these materials were sourced, and the social rituals that governed its display. To fully understand the cape, a historian would investigate fashion magazines, personal correspondence, and business records to better understand the House of Paquin and the world it inhabited. The meaning of such a garment lies not just in its aesthetic qualities but in its complex relationships to society and its institutions.