• Queen of Hearts Costume: Antique Silk Belle Époque Masquerade Dress image 1
  • May include: Cream-colored dress with playing card accents and a large red heart on the bodice. The dress features playing card details around the neckline, sleeves, and skirt, with gold trim and lace accents. The dress is displayed on a mannequin.
  • May include: A cream-colored dress adorned with playing card motifs. The dress features short sleeves with ruffled cuffs and a fitted bodice. Playing card designs are scattered across the skirt and neckline, with a red heart accent on the bodice.
  • May include: A black velvet masquerade mask with playing cards attached as a crown. The mask has eye holes and a lace trim. The playing cards are antique and feature illustrations of kings and queens.
  • May include: Cream-colored costume with playing card accents. The sleeves feature playing card suits, including clubs, diamonds, and a king. Gold trim and lace details adorn the sleeves. The fabric has a slightly aged appearance.
  • May include: Cream-colored fabric with playing card appliqués. The cards include hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds, each with gold trim. The fabric appears to be a skirt or dress.
  • May include: An antique white corset with intricate detailing. The corset features decorative lace, satin ribbon accents, and a playing card patch on the sleeve. The garment is displayed on a wooden surface.
  • May include: Cream-colored garment adorned with playing card motifs. The cards, featuring hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades, are outlined with gold trim. The sleeves have lace and card details. The garment appears vintage or antique.
  • May include: Cream-colored vintage garment with playing card accents. The bodice features a Jack of Clubs and a Seven of Spades card, trimmed with gold. The fabric shows age spots, adding to its antique aesthetic. The garment has a button-down front.
  • May include: Cream-colored fabric with playing card suit patches. The patches are outlined with gold trim and feature the suits of spades and diamonds. The fabric has some brown staining.
  • Queen of Hearts Costume: Antique Silk Belle Époque Masquerade Dress image 1
  • May include: Cream-colored dress with playing card accents and a large red heart on the bodice. The dress features playing card details around the neckline, sleeves, and skirt, with gold trim and lace accents. The dress is displayed on a mannequin.
  • May include: A cream-colored dress adorned with playing card motifs. The dress features short sleeves with ruffled cuffs and a fitted bodice. Playing card designs are scattered across the skirt and neckline, with a red heart accent on the bodice.
  • May include: A black velvet masquerade mask with playing cards attached as a crown. The mask has eye holes and a lace trim. The playing cards are antique and feature illustrations of kings and queens.
  • May include: Cream-colored costume with playing card accents. The sleeves feature playing card suits, including clubs, diamonds, and a king. Gold trim and lace details adorn the sleeves. The fabric has a slightly aged appearance.
  • May include: Cream-colored fabric with playing card appliqués. The cards include hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds, each with gold trim. The fabric appears to be a skirt or dress.
  • May include: An antique white corset with intricate detailing. The corset features decorative lace, satin ribbon accents, and a playing card patch on the sleeve. The garment is displayed on a wooden surface.
  • May include: Cream-colored garment adorned with playing card motifs. The cards, featuring hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades, are outlined with gold trim. The sleeves have lace and card details. The garment appears vintage or antique.
  • May include: Cream-colored vintage garment with playing card accents. The bodice features a Jack of Clubs and a Seven of Spades card, trimmed with gold. The fabric shows age spots, adding to its antique aesthetic. The garment has a button-down front.
  • May include: Cream-colored fabric with playing card suit patches. The patches are outlined with gold trim and feature the suits of spades and diamonds. The fabric has some brown staining.
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Queen of Hearts Costume: Antique Silk Belle Époque Masquerade Dress

Cabinet49  
5 out of 5 stars

Item highlights

  • Vintage: From the 19th century

Seller's description

A rare survival of Belle Époque fancy dress: a French masquerade costume dating to c. 1890–1910, constructed in ivory silk satin and decorated with mounted playing cards edged in metallic braid. The bodice is appliquéd with a large red velvet heart, and the costume is complete with its original black mask, also trimmed with cards.

Playing-card motifs were a popular theme for masquerade balls of the period, evoking the Queen of Hearts and the imagery of games of chance. Several cards bear the République Française tax stamp, which was required on all French decks of the time.

Costumes of this kind were ephemeral and seldom survive; their fragile materials were intended for one evening only. Complete examples with their original accessories are exceptionally rare. This piece would be of strong interest to collectors and institutions focusing on Belle Époque fashion, the history of masquerade, and the cultural design of playing cards in France.

Measurements
Bust: 31–32 in / 78.7–81.3 cm (31 in / 78.7 cm comfortable, 32 in / 81.3 cm maximum stretch)
Waist: 22 in / 55.9 cm maximum
Shoulder to underarm: 8 ¼ in / 21 cm
Shoulder to shoulder: 11 in / 27.9 cm
Length (shoulder to hem): 29 ½ in / 74.9 cm

Condition
The silk satin shows staining and discolouration throughout, with scattered spotting and marks. Fraying at some seams. The majority of the playing cards remain in very good condition, with only a few showing creasing, crumbling, or losses, particularly at the sleeves and shoulders. Some breaks and losses to the metallic braid. The hooks and eyes at the back closure are present and in good condition. The mask with age wear in keeping. The costume remains structurally intact, though delicate, and is an evocative survival of its kind.

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Rare find, already in 2 carts

Price:$834.69

You can only make an offer when buying a single item

Shipping & return policies
  • Get it by
    Oct 31-Nov 10
  • Cost to ship
    $62.60 to United States, 43215.

Seller's description

Specifications

A rare survival of Belle Époque fancy dress: a French masquerade costume dating to c. 1890–1910, constructed in ivory silk satin and decorated with mounted playing cards edged in metallic braid. The bodice is appliquéd with a large red velvet heart, and the costume is complete with its original black mask, also trimmed with cards.

Playing-card motifs were a popular theme for masquerade balls of the period, evoking the Queen of Hearts and the imagery of games of chance. Several cards bear the République Française tax stamp, which was required on all French decks of the time.

Costumes of this kind were ephemeral and seldom survive; their fragile materials were intended for one evening only. Complete examples with their original accessories are exceptionally rare. This piece would be of strong interest to collectors and institutions focusing on Belle Époque fashion, the history of masquerade, and the cultural design of playing cards in France.

Measurements
Bust: 31–32 in / 78.7–81.3 cm (31 in / 78.7 cm comfortable, 32 in / 81.3 cm maximum stretch)
Waist: 22 in / 55.9 cm maximum
Shoulder to underarm: 8 ¼ in / 21 cm
Shoulder to shoulder: 11 in / 27.9 cm
Length (shoulder to hem): 29 ½ in / 74.9 cm

Condition
The silk satin shows staining and discolouration throughout, with scattered spotting and marks. Fraying at some seams. The majority of the playing cards remain in very good condition, with only a few showing creasing, crumbling, or losses, particularly at the sleeves and shoulders. Some breaks and losses to the metallic braid. The hooks and eyes at the back closure are present and in good condition. The mask with age wear in keeping. The costume remains structurally intact, though delicate, and is an evocative survival of its kind.

  • Handpicked by
    Cabinet49
  • Era
    Vintage from the 19th century

Delivery details and policies

  • Get it by
    Oct 31-Nov 10
  • Returns and exchanges
    Not accepted.
  • Ships from
    United Kingdom
  • Cost to ship
    $62.60 to United States, 43215

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Meet your seller

Cabinet49
Gail
Cabinet49 ·

Brighton, United Kingdom

We calculate this number using a recency-weighted average of all ratings, with a rating's value decreasing by half each year to best reflect the current experience. 5.0
·
1.8k sales
·
17 years on Etsy

Usually responds in a few hours

Smooth shipping Has a history of shipping on time with tracking.

Speedy replies Has a history of replying to messages quickly.

Rave reviews Average review rating is 4.8 or higher.

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Listed on Sep 21, 2026
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