Mourning Bonnet, ca. 1888 Marshall_Field Such lace-up boots were very

Such lace-up boots were very popular at the time and were often worn on special occasions

at hip level

showing only minimal signs of wear despite being more than 160 years old

This rare silk spencer from the Empire period

when warmth

Mourning Bonnet, ca. 1888 Marshall_Field Such lace-up boots were veryThis rare Victorian mourning bonnet, dating to the late 19th century, is a poignant and beautifully preserved example of historic widows attire, crafted from crinkly crape anglaise fabrica textile specifically reserved for mourning garments, with its distinctive spelling (crape rather than crepe) denoting its solemn purpose. Intended for second mourning, this bonnet is made entirely of black mourning crape, softened by a single decorative flower and a