{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1295326"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1295326/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PG1703/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PG1703/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PG1703","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG1933","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PG1704","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KN6399","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HN1565","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1295326","accessionNumber":"T.141-2014","objectType":"Cloak","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The textile of this spectacular opera cape demonstrates Liberty’s success at designing and producing artistic yet fashionable fabrics, which were made into high quality garments in the company’s workrooms. The fact that Liberty ran a separate fashion house in Paris, at 3, Boulevard des Capucines, reinforced the brand as a leader of fashion at this time. An illustration of a luxurious evening coat made in the same textile, described as ‘Liberty silk-velvet and tinsel brocade’, is shown in a catalogue ‘Liberty Dresses and Cloaks, Autumn 1928’ priced at 29 ½ guineas, which was about the same amount as an apprentice dressmaker could expect to earn in a single year.\r\n\r\nThe cape was given to Mabel Rowe by her husband as a very special gift, and was kept in the family through subsequent generations. Mabel Rowe's daughter, Cynthia Bosher, remembers watching her mother getting dressed up in the cape for visits to the ballet at the Royal Opera House in London.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Cloak of dark green silk velvet with deep fur (dyed rabbit) collar, which doubles and fastens down with two pairs of press studs. A deep panel of woven silk ('tinsel brocade') is joined with hand stitches to the velvet at the hem, with a bold design of gold metallic thread flowers flowers and abstract, painterly dashes of blue, red and apricot. The cloak is constructed from three vertical panels of velvet, each measuring approximately 44 cm, 85 cm, and 42 cm, gathered into the collar, with deepest gathers concentrated at the shoulders. It fastens at the neck with velvet tapes. Lined in pale brown plain weave silk, with a self fabric hanging tape inside the centre back. ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Liberty","id":"A1527"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x37726"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Silk","id":"AAT14072"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"Velvet","id":"AAT133711"},{"text":"Fur","id":"AAT11811"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Velvet cape with fur collar and metallic silk applique","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2025PG1703","2025PG1933","2025PG1704","2018KN6399","2015HN1565"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES404197"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"cape","id":"AAT46140"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1928","earliest":"1928-01-01","latest":"1928-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Purchased with the assistance of the Elspeth Evans bequest","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Worn by Mrs Mabel Alice Rowe (1897-1989), and kept in the family until sold to the V&A by Mabel Rowe's grand-daughter. Mabel Rowe's daughter,Cynthia Bosher, remembers watching her mother getting dressed up in the cape for visits to the ballet at the Royal Opera House in London. An illustration of an evening coat made in the same textile (stated as ‘Liberty silk-velvet and tinsel brocade’) is shown in a catalogue in the National Art Library ‘Liberty Dresses and Cloaks, Autumn 1928’ (pressmark: LIB 323 1928), priced at 29 ½ guineas.\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Evening cloak or opera cape, green silk velvet with fur collar and metallic woven silk applique, Liberty, London, 1928","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"‘Liberty Dresses and Cloaks, Autumn 1928’ (NAL pressmark: LIB 323 1928)"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Ready to wear","id":"THES48866"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.141-2014"],"accessionNumberNum":"141","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2014,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-08","recordCreationDate":"2014-06-16","availableToBook":false}}