Can anyone help with what a 'mantlemaker' is?

Question

I have been able to ascertain that the term is generally used in clothes making and possibly is cabinet making. Can't find any real descriptions that tell exactly what the term mantlemaking means.

Answer 1

It is just that. One that makes mantles. In those days they were pretty specific about what you did. Often if you were a mantle maker you were also a milliner. One that makes, trims, designs, or sells hats.

Making a mantle was a specific job like shoe-maker. You would not ask a tailor to make a mantle it was viewed as a very different piece of clothing.

The term mantle making can be used in carpentry and stone cutting as a mantle is also the 'trimming' of a fire place. The man doing this however would not be called a mantle maker but a carpenter or stone-cutter.

Answer 2

Mantle is an archaic word for coat. Maybe your local library has an UNabridged dictionary, and I'm sure they will have the full story on mantle-making. Sometimes the net makes us forget that the library is such a useful place, but you really can't beat it when you want arcane info like this.

Best of luck.