March 14th Today, I am...

...this gorgeous wine and ivory embroidered jacket!

I am made of heavy wool in wine and cream. Thight fitting, hip-length with stand-up collar. Front  attached vest is ornately trimmed with maroon machine embroidery. The same trim is found on the shoulder, bottom of sleeve and on the back. Skirt of the jacket is shaped to fit over a bustle. I am from cca. 1890s and was worn by Jessie Webb Corwin's mother, Jessie Mason Webb. In the 1820s and 1830s the waistline deepened, returning to its natural position. As the natural waist returned the bodice required a tighter fit and in contrast the skirt became fuller and bell-shaped. There were several different sleeve styles but short puffed sleeves were generally worn for evening and long sleeves for day. Corsets continued to be worn. These were lightly boned and quilted, with a deep busk. Several layers of petticoats with frilled hems, sometimes of horsehair, were worn to support the full skirts. Some petticoats of the 1840s were feather-quilted. Later examples of the 1850s and 1860s were made of 'crin' and steel hoops.

other embroidered 19th century jackets:

interesting embroidery facts:

* the origins of embroidery are unknown, but early examples survive from ancient Egypt, Iron Age Northern Europe and Zhou Dynasty China
* the earliest machine embroidery used a combination of machine looms and teams of women embroidering the textiles by hand; this was done in England by the mid-1800s
* although embroidery has connotations of being the work of 19th Century housewives, it was originally a man’s profession
* the most common place to find an embroidered design on garments is on the left breast; the hypothesized reason for this is that in Western countries this is most effective at catching the viewer's eye as we read from left to right

(facts found at EDC and Slant Riggs)

February 26th Today, I am...

...this beautifully decorated perfume bottle!

I am Limoges style figural enamelled black ground scent bottle from 1870 (Limoges is known for its medieval and Renaissance enamels on copper, for its 19th-century porcelain and for its oak barrels which are used for Cognac production). "Perfume containters emerged as an art form in the 18th century, many different types of bottles were created such as those of cut glass, silver overlay on glass, porcelain, crystal and others. In the 19th century, bottles were being made of different materials like opaline, a special type of crystal that was colored by adding tin oxide and calcified bone that gave the bottles a milky quality. Large bottles were designed to be placed on dressing tables to hold Eau de Cologne; smaller containers were carried in handbags or worn on chains (as in picture). While during the 18th century it was mostly the wealthiest in the society who wore perfume bottles, in the middle of the 19th century, due to the industrial revolution, this changed forever. Synthetic perfume became popular and manufacturers began to produce perfume flasks in mass quantities, lowering the price of bottled perfume and enabling all types of people to indulge in what used to be a luxury"

other 19th century perfume bottles:

interesting perfume facts:

* one of the most valuable raw materials in perfumery, ambergris (ocean-y and sweet), is produced in the intestines of sperm whale
* in 1921, Molinard released a fragnance that was intended to scent cigarettes - you placed the satchels in your cigarette case or applied it directly to your cigarette for a delicious, lasting aroma
* famous French perfumer, Jean Carles (created Miss Dior), was said to have insured his nose for one million dollars
* in 1920, a Parisian butcher started a collection of 11 essential oils with the essence of bacon, thinking they could dramatically lift his customers' mood

(facts found at: Byrdie)

February 24th ~Today, I am...

...this gorgeous Victorian bag!

I am not actually from that area, just a remarkable copy and you can purchase me here. But as for the Victorian style purses goes, their history begins with Queen Victoria of England; that is from 1830 and until the end of the 20th century. It was not until her reign that the woman's fashion came into focus before men's. Victorian bags are full of exquisite lace, decorated with ribbons, flowers and special trims. There can also be a lot of glass or cut-steel beading (as in this picture, but those are plastic). That's why needle skills were very popular and appreciated at the time, there were also a lot of magazines women could learn these skills from. Accessories were made in different colours of pastels or darker shades, green was very popular. They were a perfect combinations to satins, silks and heavy velvets women wore at the time. You can buy a replica of such bags for 30-50 dollars, but the originals cost several hundrets or more than a thousand dollars!

other Victorian handbags:

interesting Victorian handbags facts:

* the finer sewings were made of at least 900 stiches per square inch, some of them consisted even up to 3,000 stiches per square inch
* these highly esteemed works of art are still hand made in Austria and sold for thousands of dollars (more than originals)
* tapestry handbags were often constructed from earlier tapestry cloth
* before the retucules (decorative bags) came into fashion, women store their belongings into dress' pockets, but the form of the dresses eventually changed so the pockets ruined their lines and couldn't be used for some time
* the French often parodied the women who carried the delicate bags that resembled previously hidden pockets as ridicules
* women spent an enormous amount of time embroidering bags to show off for potential husbands, often marking the date and their own initials on their bag
* in keeping with the ideals of domesticity of earlier times, many women wore chatelaines that attached to the waist belt by a large decorated clasp

(facts found at Antiques of Broadway, Random History and at V&A)