1/4″ Black Silk Satin Ribbon

The wristbands of women’s shifts, especially in the first half of the 18th century, were sometimes tied with 1/4″ (0.64 cm) silk ribbon in place of sleeve buttons. Necklaces of black silk ribbon with a cross below are often seen especially on French women and girls but ribbons were also simply tied around the neck or strung with beads or pearls. Quarter inch silk ribbon may also be used to decorate gowns. In The Proceedings of the Old Bailey, London of 1770 “Edward Holmes, Hannah Riddal, and Eliz. Soddi, spinsters, were indicted for making an assault on Elizabeth, wife of Michael Pever, in a certain field and open place, near the King’s highway, putting her in corporal fear and danger of her life, and taking from her . . .  a silk ribbon, value 5 d.” and later in the same proceeding “Soddi took my necklace and ribbon off.”