Caption

Coronation cloak of King Augustus III, regalia, Augustus III the Saxon King of Poland; Elector of Saxony; 1696–1763. Cloak of dark blue velvet embroidered with silver and gold braided thread and gold lamellar with palmettes. The embroidery is partly directly on the ground, partly appliquéd. The pattern is composed in a repeat format—motifs rhythmically repeated across the entire surface. The repeat consists of larger appliquéd and smaller palmettes embroidered directly onto the cloak. Elaborate larger and smaller palmette compositions with symmetrical arrangements two motif types surround larger and smaller compositions with asymmetrical branches bearing fanciful flowers and strongly curved stems, tilted right and left three branch types in alternating arrangements. The pattern layout is extended in length, with the pattern width equal to the fabric width. The embroidery motifs resemble silk fabric patterns of the period, including lace-like designs. The garment is edged and lined with ermine fur. A narrow shoulder-fitted collar sits at the top, over which a wide semicircular ermine-trimmed collar falls, widening from the shoulder line and ending in a semicircle at the bottom. Embroidery motifs are symmetrically placed over the entire surface. Date: before 1734; probable origin: Dresden; garment dimensions: length 320 cm, width 250 cm., A dark velvet garment with a rich sheen, predominantly deep green with areas of dark gray and black, patterned with a repeating ornate floral and foliate embroidery in metallic gold tones; the fabric shows folds, wrinkles, and a gathered section near the top, and there is a visible cuff with cream-colored fur trim; the embroidered motifs include stylized blossoms, leaves, and scroll-like shapes, and there are subtle variations in the velvet pile that create lighter green highlights and worn patches.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A13_068

License type

Rights managed

Available size

47.5Mb (3.7Mb) / 11.1in x 16.6in / 3328 x 4992 (300dpi)

Keywords

Coronation cloak King Augustus III regalia Augustus III Saxon King Poland Elector Saxony 1696–1763 Cloak dark blue velvet embroidered silver gold braided thread gold lamellar palmettes embroidery partly directly ground partly appliquéd pattern composed repeat format motifs rhythmically repeated across entire surface repeat consists larger appliquéd smaller palmettes directly cloak Elaborate larger smaller palmette compositions symmetrical arrangements two motif types surround larger smaller compositions asymmetrical branches bearing fanciful flowers strongly curved stems tilted right left three branch types alternating arrangements pattern layout extended length width equal fabric width embroidery motifs resemble silk fabric patterns period lace- designs garment edged lined ermine fur narrow shoulder-fitted collar sits top wide semicircular ermine-trimmed collar falls widening shoulder line ending semicircle bottom Embroidery motifs symmetrically placed Date 1734 probable origin Dresden garment dimensions 320 cm width 250 cm dark rich sheen predominantly deep green areas dark gray black patterned repeating ornate floral foliate embroidery metallic gold tones fabric folds wrinkles gathered section near visible cuff cream-colored fur trim embroidered motifs include stylized blossoms leaves scroll- shapes subtle variations velvet pile create lighter green highlights worn patches.