Wedding veil
Unknown Artist
first quarter 19th century
Medium
Silk, metal, cotton
Classification
Wedding Veil
Culture
Russian
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 Mrs. Edward S. Harkness in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Greenman Stillman, 1931
Accession Number
2009.300.3001
Art Historical Context
This delicate wedding veil from the first quarter of the 19th century offers a glimpse into Russian bridal traditions during the early Romantic era. Crafted for a Costume Institute display, it hails from a time when elaborate wedding attire symbolized purity, prosperity, and social standing in Russian Orthodox culture. Veils like this were essential elements of a bride's ensemble, often worn during ceremonial processions and blessings, blending modesty with opulence. Made from luxurious silk, accented with shimmering metal threads and cotton reinforcements, the veil showcases masterful textil...