Black Bow Silk Velvet Dress Sash Beaded Netting Trim Edwardian Mourning Ribbon Antique Victorian

Description

A dramatic antique black silk velvet dress sash, richly adorned with hand-applied beading and netted embellishment, once worn at the back of a Victorian or early Edwardian gown—an evocative survivor of late 19th to early 20th century dress.

Condition

As expected for an authentic antique textile, this sash shows visible age-related wear. There is damage to the beaded/netted embellishment, with one side detached, clearly shown in the photographs. Beading and netting display wear and fragility, and the velvet shows light surface wear consistent with age. Despite these issues, the sash retains strong visual impact and remains a compelling survivor.

Please review all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description. Full Description

This striking antique dress bow sash is fashioned from deep black silk velvet and was intended to be worn at the back of a Victorian or Edwardian dress, fastening at the waist to create a dramatic, elongated silhouette. Such bows were popular from the late 19th century into the early 1900s, often serving as both decorative and structural accents on formal daywear, evening gowns, and mourning attire.

The bow itself spans an impressive 12 inches across, with long velvet streamers descending gracefully. The ends are finished with an elaborate hand-worked embellishment composed of black glass beadwork, layered netting, and applied paillettes, forming a richly textured and light-catching terminal detail. This jeweled netted section measures approximately 6 inches in length, contributing to the sash’s theatrical presence.

At the upper portion are original metal hooks used to attach the sash to the dress bodice; one hook is missing, consistent with age and use. The velvet ribbon measures 2 inches in width, and the total length from the top of the bow to the bottom of the beaded netting is approximately 28 inches.

Costume & Textile Study
The piece remains a wonderful study example of period textile craftsmanship and dress ornamentation, ideal for collectors of antique clothing, historic costume designers, or those assembling reference collections for museum or theatrical work.

Collector’s Note

Decorative back bows such as this were especially favored in late Victorian and Edwardian fashion for their ability to emphasize the waist and add movement and luxury to a gown. Black velvet examples were commonly associated with formal wear and mourning dress, making surviving examples particularly sought after today.