🚀 go-pugleaf

Sorry to post this to so many newsgroups, but this is such an unusual item
that I was unsure where to best post this announcement. To see a really nice
picture of this item, go to:

URL: http://www.crl.com/~bobkat/Coat.html

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Court Attire of the Marquis D'Armand

Court Attire of the Marquis D'Armand, cousin of the infamous Robespierre,
officer to the court at Versailles, and confidant of Louis XVI, King of
France.

Consisting of coat and waistcoat: coat is in the fasion of 1780; indeed,
this very piece is described in the King's Book for that year. It is of rose
colored silk brocade, having white silk floss embroidery, with white silver
sequins. The white sequins are actually carefully matched fish scales, the
silver ones are now coal black with their great age. At cuffs is the
celebrated Belgian lace. Lining is white sheer silk, now fragile, bearing
the name of the Marquis.

Waiscoat is white sheer silk, embroidered with a strawberry motif, having
silver sequins. Included is a jabot, or neckpiece, of very similar lace to
that on the cuffs. While not an exact match, the jabot is very dramatic when
displayed with the rest of the ensemble on a mannequin.

Condition, though now fragile, is sound for its great age. Considering that
this is 18th Century silk textile, to have survived 200 years at all is
something of a miracle, especially since most finery of the French nobles
was willfully destroyed during the Reign of Terror. Likewise, in the ensuing
decades following the French Revolution, ignorance, apathy, and the elements
have taken their toll on vintage fasion. Pieces of this caliber are now
rarely offered, even by such prestigious outlets as the Christie's and
Sotheby's auction galleries.

For price and other information, please contact Richard Lucas at
(415)455-8510. (USA)