Help! What is this??

[Jennifer Richardson]

Hi everyone, Jen here again…

I found this a few years ago in a tiny thrift shop in Kansas. It’s either silk or satin and it looks like a cape? It’s very heavy and it’s quilted all over…kind of reminds me of a bathrobe it is not in great condition, it does have some hole and some wear on the piping. It has one big black button on the top of the collar, it fits like a cape. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Does anyone have any ideas of the era and what it is?

Thank you for your insight!

Jen

 

[Linn]

It looks pretty long but I think it's a bathrobe - or cover-up meant to be worn at home. If it were short I'd call it a "bed jacket." It appears to me to be from the 1930s. I could be wrong and it could be an opera cape - but I don't think so.

 

[Jennifer Richardson]

Hi Linn! I am torn between a bathrobe and an Opera cape lol! It's in rough shape but I still think it's pretty cool. I did look up opera capes earlier and didn't find anything exactly like it, but some looked close. Upon further inspection I think it's silk. Either way it was a fun find How cool if it's from the 1920's. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.

 

[bycinbyhand]

How long is it?

 

[Jennifer Richardson]

How long is it?

Hi Cinthia, it's floor length. I haven't measured it exactly, but it's very long.

 

[retro ruth]

It's a very 'lingerie' colour. Unusual piece, it's giving me 'home' rather than 'opera' vibes with the colour and the quilting. I had a 1930s bed jacket in a simlar colour with quilting. But I've not seen a full length cape like this, so it's hard to call it.

 

[Marzilli_Vintage]

It looks like what used to be called a "housecoat" in the 40's and 50's.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

I have had bed jackets similar to this but never saw a cape. The bed jackets I have had were from the 40s or 50s. It really is unique!
It also reminds me of the lovely quilt like silk comforters from that era. I was wondering if it may not have been converted from
a comforter at that time.

 

[retro ruth]

I was wondering if it may not have been converted from
a comforter at that time.

That's a good thought MJ. The scallopped edges could have been the edges of a 'comforter'. Would need to see more of it, to make that assessment, but looking how the design goes into the side seam, and imagining that the motif in the middle of the back was in the middle of the comforter, I could also see this.

 

[retro ruth]

Created from something like this:

 

[retro ruth]

Can you show the inside seams?

 

[Marzilli_Vintage]

I found this:

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Looks very much like the comforter you found, Ruth.

We were given one as a wedding present by a friend, ours was a wine colored silk. His parents had received it as a wedding gift and never used it.
We used it till the silk shredded and the feathers were poking out.

 

[retro ruth]

Looks very much like the comforter you found, Ruth.

Yes it's really very similar. Might even be the same except for the colour. Can't see the whole central motif but it's looks very like the one on the cape, as do the edgings.

I think someone constructed this from a comforter/quilted bedspread. I wonder when?

 

[retro ruth]

The original listing is long gone, but I found some more images via pinterest.

It si described as Eleanor Bear Silk quilt. Eleanor Beard appears to have been a maker of rather wonderful quilts.

I do see a great many similarities with the quilting on this cape.

 

[FlashbackATX]

Hi everyone, Jen here again…

I found this a few years ago in a tiny thrift shop in Kansas. It’s either silk or satin and it looks like a cape? It’s very heavy and it’s quilted all over…kind of reminds me of a bathrobe it is not in great condition, it does have some hole and some wear on the piping. It has one big black button on the top of the collar, it fits like a cape. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Does anyone have any ideas of the era and what it is?

Thank you for your insight!

Jen

Hi! you seem to have a very rare item. it looks like a 30s era cape made from a silk quilted throw/bedspread/duvet or whatever they were called back then. i have several. they are all quilted like this and down filled. it could be an opera cape

 

[eel]

I don't think it's an opera coat,
I do think it's a repurposed bedspread, like others have mentioned
First Snuggie ever?

 

[Jennifer Richardson]

Can you show the inside seams?

Sure! I will take some more photos when I get back home.

 

[Jennifer Richardson]

Hi! you seem to have a very rare item. it looks like a 30s era cape made from a silk quilted throw/bedspread/duvet or whatever they were called back then. i have several. they are all quilted like this and down filled. it could be an opera cape

Thank you for your help

 

[Jennifer Richardson]

I don't think it's an opera coat,
I do think it's a repurposed bedspread, like others have mentioned
First Snuggie ever?

The first Snuggie! Love it!