Phoenix Company Cape
date: label: Date made
content: 1840-1860
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: Capes with this quality of artistic work were worn almost exclusively as part of a parade uniform. The image is of a Phoenix engulfed in flames. Mythology states that the bird lives for hundreds of years before spontaneously burning to death. From the ashes, a new Phoenix is born. This story of destruction by fire and rebirth from ashes made the Phoenix a popular emblem for firemen. This cape likely belonged to a member of the Phoenix Hose Company of Philadelphia whose parade hats display the same detailed image.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States
topic: label: Subject
content: Phoenix
label: Subject
content: Fire Fighting
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
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content: Clothing & Accessories
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content: Cultures & Communities
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content: Work
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content: Art
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2005.0233.0119
label: catalog number
content: 2005.0233.0119
label: accession number
content: 2005.0233
objectType: label: Object Name
content: cape, fire uniform
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: oil cloth (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: paint (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 29 in x 46 in; 73.66 cm x 116.84 cm