Victorian velvet cape with fur trim

[violentpink]

I recently purchased this cape and I've come across quite a few similar ones online but sellers/owners usually teeter between the trim being monkey fur or black bear fur. I've handled both types of fur before but not with this much age so it's difficult for me to identify with certainty. I would've thought it were monkey fur because of the length of the hair, how it slightly seems like human hair, and how thin/delicate the hide is, but the way that several people have said black bear fur has thrown me off.

The cape itself seems to be in pretty decent condition other than the dry hide/fur and near the closures (two - one near the neck, another a little down.) It's fully lined in the printed fabric seen in the closeup shots and has two pockets inside, one on each side of the bust. No labels.

I'd appreciate any information on what type of fur it is and when it's from (more specific than Victorian if possible). I'm curious to how it originally looked as well, so if there are any photos from the time of someone wearing a similar garment, I'd love to see. Thanks for any help, let me know if better quality photos are needed.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Hi,

I do not think the fur is ape hair or monkey hair/fur, but it is difficult to tell from the photo and not having it "in hand" to determine. The base of the fur looks sort of frizzy or fuzzy. The cape itself looks like a silk plush which was common for use in capes and cloaks in the later Victorian era.

We have a member here who specializes in vintage furs and hopefully she will come along to help.

I love the fabric used on the lining. While the cape is rather simple in style, it looks to be from the 1880s or early 1890s. Hard to say.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

I agree with Barbara, and date to the 1890s. The fur does not look fine enough to be monkey fur to my eye, and the fabric looks like a plush velvet.

 

[violentpink]

Thank you so much Rue_de_la_Paix and Circa Vintage for info on the dating and material! I should've noted the fuzzy underfur, too - that also threw me off from monkey when I took a closer look.

 

[furwise]

There are over 260 species of monkey. Some monkeys have thicker fur with a more coarse look and appearance. It really depends on the species but your fur does look like some type of monkey fur to me although the underfur is matted and nappy from wear over time.

 

[Pinkcoke]

I wondered whether the collar and opening trim were different types of fur as they look very different to me, or is that just the wear I'm seeing Caryn?

 

[furwise]

I wondered whether the collar and opening trim were different types of fur as they look very different to me, or is that just the wear I'm seeing Caryn?

Same type of fur. That is just matted and worn fur you are seeing.
I don't usually prefer to compare animal fur to our hair but it makes sense to do so in explanation here. When we do not brush our hair for awhile, from pressing on it, sleeping on it, and so forth, our hair gets knotted and matted. Our hair, especially the hair underneath looks different and it will even appear shorter because it is matted and knotted. It then feels different too. Same thing happens to furs that have length to them.

By the way, style cape with the monkey fur trim was a popular style during the 1880's, 1890's that I have seen multiple times.

 

[violentpink]

Awesome, thanks so much for your help, Furwise! Your explanation makes a lot of sense. I combed out one of the less matted areas with success and it definitely resembles monkey fur even more now. So soft and silky! I might try to comb the rest of it, I don't think some of it is that fixable but it'll give it a little more life.

Here are some better quality photos I took today, just for any future reference or curiosity, and to show the section of fur I combed through.

 

[furwise]

Ahhh...yes. You would make quite the hair stylist . Comb with care and if you cannot get all smooth and unmatted be proud of your effort. You have done a nice job already.