Context (Related Documents)
The V&A printed register, p. 211, notes 211-1869 as 'Cloak, of dark blue silk lined with red silk (semicircular) bordered with a series of bands of interlaced waved lines and leaf devices, edged with a scallop ornament embroidered with coloured silks in chain stitch. At the two front corners, panels of yellow satin covered with similar silk embroidery. Beaten silver ornaments are stitched along the edge of the cloak, and in radiations about filigree bosses. The morse or clasp of primitive ornament beaten in silver, gilt. Abyssinian. 19th Century. L.5ft. 2 in., W. round bottom, 10ft. This is a richer version of Cloak No. 396-1869'
Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
Catalogue card: 'See 1944.25. [ceremonial cloak]'

Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Field collection)
The Stanton listed in the V&A Register and sewn-on label may be General Sir Edward Stanton, KCB KCMG (19 February 1827 – 24 June 1907). In 1867 he was appointed consul-general in Alexandria, and was involved in the dispute regarding the imprisonment of the consulate Capt. Charles Duncan Cameron, and others by Emperor Tewodros in 1864, which led to the British 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia and the sacking of Maqdala
Event Date
Author: rachel hand

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card: 'Elaborate blue silk cloak. Richly embroidered and decorated with a lot of metalwork which is sewn on. Lining of gold silk.'

Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Acquisition Details)
The V&A's handwritten register, completed on entry notes 'Robe , dark blue silk with coloured silk embroidery, and ornamented with silver gilt filigree. Abyssinian.'
Noted as bought for £80 on March 18 1869 from 'Lt Col. Stanton'.



Event Date 18/3/1869
Author: rachel hand

Description (Labels & Markings)
A label stitched into the cloak reads: "Col Stanton". This is a V&A cloth label which presumably refers to Lt Col. Edward Stanton, consul-general in Alexandria.
Event Date 19/9/2005
Author: rachel hand

Description (Physical description)
Metal elements are attached to the object. There is a lot of red and yellow stitching.
Event Date 19/9/2005
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Amendments / updates)
Information supplied by Nicola Stylianou, PhD student at the V&A and taken from the V&A archives, offers evidence that Z 19184-5, Z 18161 and Z 19188 were transferred from the Victoria and Albert Museum on 24/8/1934, with the Hawaiian cape 1934.1159, three Chinese textiles, a Russian silk, and a fringed woven vegetable fibre textile, with bands of geometrical patterns' from the South Seas, the latter items as yet unidentified.

Event Date 15/11/2010
Author: Rachel Hand

Description (Physical description)
Hooded blue silk cloak with gold silk lining. The front is decorated with geometric embroidered patterns in red, white and green around the edges with attached stamped metal beads. The neck fastening is a large plated piece of metal, two sections of which are missing, embedded with green and blue stones, possibly sapphire and emerald.
Event Date 16/9/2022
Author: Emily Shorter