High on my wish list is a 1690-1710 mantilla and with that I would need a fontange cap. This rather absurd cap fashion became popular during the 1680’s and remained popular until the 1710’s, or so. It was usually paired with a high hairstyle, confusingly enough usually called a fontange hairstyle. To be technical the fontange was the ribbons on the cap, the high pleated frill was called a frelange. As it rose higher and higher it was supported by a wire construction called commode.
The only extant fontange cap, as far as i know, is actually worn by a doll, known as Lady Clapham. V&A describes it like this:
Circular doll's cap consisting of the cap, wire and ribbon. The cap is made of spotted lawn edged in English bobbin lace which falls into two lappets on either side of the face. It has a graduated double frill ('Monte la haut'), a narrower frill in front and a taller frill behind. The frill is supported by a wire covered in muslin formed in a semi-circle with eight radiating spokes graduating to the highest in the centre. The cap is circled with pink silk taffeta ribbon which is twisted about the cap, and is tied in two bows and lined with brown silk. The ribbon is padded in between and sewn to a cotton band which forms a base to attach to the doll's head. The cap is secured by a linen cord drawn through the back breadth.
Unfortunately no one seems to have made a proper pattern.
If you look at art, the standing frill seems to have been done rather differently.
I’m making a modified version of two layers of fine white linen and lace made by my grandmother.
2 comments:
Oooh how exciting! These caps are so ridiculous but fabulous aren't they!
I imagine the doll's cap sits very differently from a full size one as the fabric is so out of scale. Yours is looking gorgeous - are you starching it too?
Maryanne: Completely over teh top caps! I guess so. :) And yes, I will starch it as well as adding some wire.
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