Spooks in the Collection: The Owl and the Pussycat

The weather is changing, the days are getting shorter, and October has almost reached its end. One last thing needs to happen before we hit November…Halloween! When someone in the US thinks of Halloween, many ideas and images are bound to come up in their mind: Glowing jack-o-lanterns, witches, skeletons, children in costume, and candy abound.

This Halloween, let’s talk about the furry and feathery friends we associate with the holiday. Specifically for this blog post, I looked at two pieces related to two animals you might see perched on a witch’s shoulder as she flies through the night sky – a cat and an owl.

This French feline-adorned coin purse is from 1935. The angular ears and flicked tail are perfect for a repeat pattern, and also give just the right vibe for Halloween.

Accession 3163, French Coin Purse c.1935 Donor: Mrs. Malcolm Baber

Accession 3163, French Coin Purse c.1935 Donor: Mrs. Malcolm Baber

So how did cats get associated with Halloween in the first place? It comes down to superstition. During the times where Christian societies seemed to have a witch craze, cats were one of the animals thought to be companions to those who practiced dark magic. The spooky nature of modern Halloween has latched onto this and made a black cat one of the major icons of the holiday.

The garment you see in the next photo is a beautiful, downy capelet made of owl feathers, c. 1897. The softness and elegance of the capelet hardly seems to relate to the big, spooky owls of old Halloween movies, which is so interesting.

Accession 65.10.1 Owl Feather Capelet c. 1895 Donor: Mrs. Russell

Accession 65.10.1 Owl Feather Capelet c. 1895 Donor: Mrs. Russell

Owls, similarly to cats, became associated with Halloween due to their nature as predators of the nocturnal type. Their evolution in Halloween iconography mimics the evolution of Halloween itself – once a serious pagan holiday to the night of tricks and treats we see today. What once was considered an evil, dark-dwelling creature is now simply another character on the Halloween roster.

Hannah Donnelly

Volunteer Intern

Enthusiasm, Craftsmanship, and the Sentimental

This week we hear from Laura Franco, our new Fashion Design Graduate Assistant.

Growing up, you always hope that you can make it in life and try to figure out the path you need to take in order to achieve your goals. I have been known to be Murphy’s Law — if anything can go wrong, it will — but in a funny way. However, when it comes to fashion, I have had nothing but luck; and having the opportunity to work at the Fox Historic Costume Collection is another sign that I am exactly where I am supposed be in my life.

This week, while working in the collection I had the opportunity to observe an Antique Chinese Purse and the 1980s aisle in storage. This may sound strange, but when I put on the white gloves (in order to safely handle the object), I feel like an archaeologist. I gently opened the purse and discovered the hard work that went into creating such a masterpiece. This will probably be one the best memories of my time at the FHCC, because it is the first piece I was able to study very thoroughly as I gathered the information needed to do accession paperwork.

If I had to choose my favorite time period in fashion, I would say the 1980s. Now before you start assuming I must be crazy to love a period that is known for eccentric fashion style, I am going to try convince you why it was the best, in my opinion. One word: PERSONALITY. Everyone dressed up according to how they felt and who they were. They didn’t care about looking amazing as much as feeling it. I believe that everyone loved what they wore and didn’t care about others’ opinion. From the metallic fabrics to the experimentation of mixing colors, this fashion era has always had my heart.

The best part about working at the FHCC is being able to walk through time from one aisle to the next. I know this sounds corny, but it feels like magic. Every piece in the collection has a story and sentimental value, which is what I hope my work to become one day.

Laura Franco

Graduate Assistant