Lectures and Presentations

Introduction
The Scene is set / a few basics
Layers
Dressing up
Ready to go to the tea

Layer by Layer How Women Dressed in the 1860s

presented November 2, 2003 at the annual Victorian Tea
by the Stamford Historical Society and Jane Sabatelli

IV: Ready to go …

Final touches: a traveling mantle and a refreshing sniff at the nosegay

A small floral spray called a nose gay accompanied a fine bred lady when she traveled from home.

Back view of a fringed jacquard traveling mantle and bonnet with outer lace bavolet at the nape.

Front view of bonnet and traveling mantle with a cone shaped silver nose gay holder called a tussie mussie.

A small floral spray called a nosegay accompanied a fine bred lady when she traveled from home.

Back view of a fringed jacquard traveling mantle and bonnet with outer lace bavolet at the nape.

Front view of bonnet and traveling mantle with a cone shaped silver nosegay holder called a tussie-mussie.

A close up of the tussie mussie holder designed to keep the floral stems moist and blooms fresh.

A close up of the tussie-mussie, the holder designed to keep the floral stems moist and fragrant blooms fresh. Due to the indelicate odors that might have assailed one's sensitive nose when traveling about out of doors in those days, no woman of fine breeding would ever have left home without it being handy.

The tea table is ready for the guests …

Pam Whitney is putting final touches to the tea table.

The tea table is waiting for the guests.