Antique 1890s Black Victorian Exquisite Beadworked COLLAR in order two pieces Glass Seed beads Bugle BEADS Mourning Dress Collar

Antique 1890s Black Victorian Exquisite Beadworked COLLAR in two pieces Glass Seed beads Bugle BEADS Mourning Dress Collar

"Lace berths were long lace pieces designed to be worn off the shoulder. When laid flat, they form more than a complete circle, typically a circle and a half. Popular in 19th century when elegant evening gowns with deep necklines and bare shoulders were in vogue. They are popular today because they are so long, and can be worn many ways including tied loosely as a scarf or ruffled down the front of a V-neck dress”.

STYLE: Very stunning and decorative antique beaded on mesh Berthe or long collar!

COLOUR & PATTERN: This is an amazing black beaded collar with unique and extensive gorgeous bead work such as applying glass seed (forming flowers) and bugle beads to the mesh background! I believe it was a collar but has since come apart and I can see the promise of sewing the two pieces together as I've demonstrated with a pin holding them together at the back and then having the order long pieces with the lace fringe down the front, but there are other ways it could be assembled and arranged.

I've displayed it on a white background and also on a red top that also shows the beadwork. It could be called a Mourning Dress Collar or even a Berthe depending on the way you put it together. A silver brooch or pin could figure in the design. I've acquired these two pieces as they are and am speculating as to how they were used. There are two small breaks in the mesh, one on each piece, and both located near the end part that would be joined together.

It's weighty as they are glass beads and came up with 220 grams or 8 ounces.

SIZE APPROXIMATELY: Outer opening is 26 inches measured across; the inner border is 20 inches across; the depth at its widest is 5-1/2 inches!

CONDITION: Very good condition for its age and a few comments are mentioned above.

THANKS FOR LOOKING!