Antique Victorian Mourning Mantle Jet Bead Fringed Black Mantelet or Capelet

This is a striking Victorian mantle / capelet or mantelet, a type of short cape or shoulder cover, beautifully decorated with jet beading and jet bead fringe. The piece is made of a brown silk exterior with black silk lining. It has a double hook and eye closure at the neck. The beaded fringe measures 7 in length. Most likely, this would have been worn as a mourning piece. In Victorian times, it was obligatory to wear black while in mourning. Between the high mortality rate, the large families, and the length of the mourning period, black would have often been worn.
Age: Late Victorian era, circa 1880 - 1900.
Color: Black
Sizing: The number 36 is affixed to the interior lining, which would be a Victorian sizing, most likely French - although this should fit a small range of sizes, please note the following measurements for fit. The piece measures 16 around the neckline, 18 between the first hook and loop and 24 between the second hook and loop. and flares out to 146 along the bottom edge.
Condition: This does have some condition problems. The lining is worn at the right and left top edges and separating from the exterior fabric at the top (see last close-up photos). Ive noted two or three places where the string of fringe beads is missing and one string where part of the string is missing. The beads have “settled on a few strings so that the top of the string is visible, but this is typical and somewhat minor. Otherwise, the piece is intact and looks great.
Striking Victorian mantelet - great accessory and beautiful object!