Accessory set
Unknown Artist
ca. 1850
Medium
Linen
Classification
Accessory Set
Culture
American
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Pratt Institute, 1959
Accession Number
2009.300.5054a–c
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of mid-19th-century American fashion with this charming *Accessory set*, crafted around 1850 from fine linen. Produced by an unknown artist, this delicate ensemble likely includes detachable collars, cuffs, or similar adornments—hallmarks of Victorian-era attire. Linen, a lightweight and breathable natural fiber derived from flax, was prized for its crisp whiteness and durability, making it ideal for accessories that demanded frequent laundering to maintain a polished appearance. In 1850s America, such sets were essential for middle-class women, allowing them to re...