Velvet Cape, ca. 1865 – Princess Clementine d’Orléans & Saxe‑Coburg‑Koháry Provenance

Provenance & Family History

With this extraordinary velvet cape, the story begins at the back — in the literal and historical sense.

The cape was acquired from the estate of Dr. Alexander Eugen Duke of Württemberg (1933–2024). It was stored in a suitcase labeled:

“Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria (née Princess of Bourbon‑Parma) hand‑embroidered underwear / parasols of Princess Clementine of Saxe‑Coburg née Princess of Orléans.”

Alexander Eugen was the son of Nadejda Klementine Maria of Bulgaria (1899–1958) and Albrecht Eugen Duke of Württemberg (1895–1954). Nadejda’s parents were Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon‑Parma (1870–1899) and Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (1861–1948). Ferdinand’s parents were Prince August of Saxe‑Coburg‑Coháry and Princess Clementine d’Orléans (1817–1907).

This cape originates from the estate of Princess Clementine, daughter of Louis Philippe I d’Orléans, King of the French, and Maria Amalia of Bourbon. Clementine married Prince August of Saxe‑Coburg‑Koháry on 20 April 1843 at Saint‑Cloud Palace. The couple resided in the Palais Coburg in Vienna.

The cape — likely part of Clementine’s wardrobe — entered the House of Württemberg through inheritance. In our experience, garments of this kind were preserved only when tied to special family memory, passed from grandmother to daughter to granddaughter.

Construction & Materials – Velvet, Fringe & Transitional Design

Textile & Coloration

This extraordinary cape is made of velvet, dating to circa 1865. Its base shade is green, enriched with black and salmon‑colored sections. These colors repeat in the lush fringe decoration and in the woven fabric itself.

Cut & Silhouette

The cape is:

• round‑cut at the back, typical of the round crinoline dresses of the 1860s

• dolman‑style at the front, reflecting mid‑century outerwear fashion

• quilted inside, providing warmth and structure

• visually suited as a transitional cape from summer to fall

Its craftsmanship and color palette place it firmly within the refined aristocratic fashion of the Second French Empire and Austrian court circles.

Condition

The cape is preserved in very good to excellent condition, with:

• stable velvet

• intact fringe

• clean interior quilting

A rare survival of mid‑19th‑century aristocratic outerwear.

Measurements

• Front length: approx. 120 cm

• Back length: approx. 85 cm

Biographical Context – Princess Clementine d’Orléans

Princess Clementine

Born 3 June 1817 at the Château de Neuilly‑sur‑Seine, Clementine was the daughter of Louis Philippe I, King of the French, and Maria Amalia of Bourbon. After her father’s accession in 1830, she received the title Princess of Orléans.

On 20 April 1843, she married Prince August of Saxe‑Coburg‑Koháry, brother of King Ferdinand II of Portugal, at Saint‑Cloud Palace. The couple lived in the Palais Coburg in Vienna, where Clementine became a central figure in European dynastic networks.