Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1978.C39.01 |
Object Name |
Cape |
Features |
Wool material, embroidered in leaf motif with matching thread. Lined with a wool plaid lining (in green, brown and gold plaid). Collar, hook and eye fastening at neck. |
Object Story |
This maple leaf embroidered and plaid inner lining cape was worn by Mrs. Jay Switzer sometime before 1978 in Bath, Ontario. Although we associate plaid patterning with Scottish kilts and Canadian lumberjacks, the first appearance of a pattern similar to plaid was found on a mummy from 1000 BCE. The Cherchen Man is a naturally mummified body that was found wearing plaid leggings in the Taklamakan Desert of north-west China. Unlike Egyptian mummies which were mummified through human practices, the Cherchen Man was mummified by the exposure to the arid desert conditions that prevented the body from decomposing. The man was also found wearing a red twill tunic and ochre paint on his face resembling spirals and sun patterns. Plaid material as we know it now originated as tartan in Scotland around the 1700s. Said tartan was made of woven cloth dyed with whatever was on hand, usually vegetables. As people of Scottish heritage immigrated to the America's, the names of tartan and plaid became interchangeable, however plaid is traditionally considered a large piece of tartan cloth that would be used as various garments. As of now plaid has continued to surge in popularity especially in the grunge fashion world as well as within interior home design. |
People |
Switzer Switzer, Mrs. Jay |
Subjects |
Fashion Fashion Fashion industry Textile industry Textiles Tartans and plaids Clothing & dress Costumes |
Search Terms |
Bath |