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Offered is a rare, museum-quality piece of New England domestic history: an extensive, intact textile and ephemera archive directly belonging to the prominent Burnett Family of Southborough, Massachusetts. This spectacular collection features a 21-piece historic ladies' lace wardrobe ensemble alongside a generational handwritten provenance note detailing its specific historical significance.
Featured Collection Highlight:
A major highlight of this archive is a matching pair of exquisite mid-Victorian detachable sleeves/cuffs. Crafted from finely pleated sheer fabric with embroidered floral whitework borders, they retain their original rows of ornate turquoise cabochon buttons set in twisted gilt-metal frames. Finding intact, matching 19th-century garments with their original luxury color-matched closures is an exceptional rarity.
Historical Significance & Provenance:
The collection includes a deeply personal, handwritten note passed down through generations of the family. The note, written by Mary Jo Van Meter to her daughter (M.S.S.), explicitly identifies these heirlooms:
• "Real silk scarves. Valuable old real lace pieces."
• "2 collars belonging to Josephine Burnett, your Great Grandmother..."
• Crucially, the note adds a spectacular detail for historians: "One collar worn when her miniature was painted."
The Burnett Family Connection:
Josephine Cutter Burnett (1830–1906) was the matriarch of one of Massachusetts' most influential families. She was the wife of renowned chemist and entrepreneur Dr. Joseph Burnett, founder of the Joseph Burnett Company. Dr. Burnett is celebrated in American history for manufacturing the early medical anesthetics used in the first painless surgical operations at Massachusetts General Hospital (1846), as well as developing America’s first commercial vanilla extract.
Complete Collection Manifest (21 Pieces Total):
This archive includes the following historically preserved items, as cataloged from the estate collection:
• 11 Antique Lace Remnants & Intricate Geometric Trim/Insertion Fragments
• 1 Fine Lace Collar (Worn for the historical miniature portrait sitting)
• 1 Larger Piece of Lace
• 3 Lace Shawls with attached Collars
• 1 Large Lace Shawl (Measuring approximately 30" x 60")
• 1 Set of Rare Victorian Cuffs/Sleeves adorned with Authentic Turquoise Cabochon Buttons
• 1 Matching Set of Lace Cuffs
• 1 Antique Lace Girdle / Sash Accent
• 1 Victorian Lace Bonnet
• Original Handwritten Provenance Note: The authentic ink-on-paper historical letter mapping out the family chain of custody.
• Historical Reference Document: Chronological history paperwork from the Southborough Historical Society establishing the context of the family's New England history.
The textile pieces are in remarkable antique condition for their 150+ year age, exhibiting a gorgeous, authentic aged ecru tone. They have been historically preserved and stored with care. True to authentic estate textiles, some pieces show expected minor fraying, delicate thread separations in the fine background netting, and minor historic storage spots/ink stains (visible in close-up photos). No modern cleaning or chemical interventions have been attempted to preserve original textile integrity. The handwritten note shows expected age-toning and minor folds but remains fully legible and structurally intact. Please review all high-resolution photos carefully to inspect the fine craftsmanship and condition details
