Coat and Breeches thumbnail 1
Coat and Breeches thumbnail 2
+3
images
Not currently on display at the V&A

Coat and Breeches

1770-1779 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A man’s coat and breeches of lilac woollen broadcloth. The coat has a ⅞-inch (1.8 cm) standing collar, and curving two-piece sleeves ending in a 3¾-inch (8.5 cm) cuff. The fronts curve from neck to hem with pleats 5¼-inch (8.3 cm) deep, below the hip set at the side back. Each front has a pocket with scalloped pocket flap; the centre-back seam is open below the hip. The coat is lined with dark green silk satin, the sleeves and pockets with bleached linen. There are 8 mother-of-pearl buttons, set with silver-gilt and green glass paste, arranged in pairs along the right front. Beside each is an applied decoration – a narrow strip of leather embroidered with green and red foil spangles and silver purl. At the end of each is a tassel of silver frisé, thread and spangles. The same decoration is arranged in pairs along the left front. The top 4 buttonholes have been cut but not worked. There are 3 buttons below each pocket with corresponding decoration on the pocket flaps, and 3 on each cuff. Three buttons adorn the pleats, 1 at the hem, 1 half-way up; the 1 at the top has a tassel on each side.

The breeches comprise 2 fronts, two backs and 2 waistbands, made of lilac woollen broadcloth. The back legs are cut higher than the fronts and gathered into the back of the waistbands. There is a pocket on each front and a watch pocket in the lining of the right front waistbands. The fronts close with buttoned waistbands and a fall front; the back waistbands with eyelets as well as a buckle and strap. The breeches are unlined; the centre back, centre front seams covered with lilac silk tape. The fall front is lined with dark green silk satin, the waistband and pockets with fustian. There are 3 metal and ivory buttons on the front waistband, 1 to fasten each corner of the pocket and 2 for the fall front. On each leg, 2 of the original mother-of-pearl, silver-gilt and glass paste buttons remain; 2 other metal filigree buttons are later replacements. There is a knee-band below of knitted beige silk.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Coat
  • Breeches
Materials and techniques
Wool, silk, linen, mother-of-pearl, silver, glass paste, foil; hand woven, hand sewn
Brief description
Man's coat and breeches, Great Britain, 1770-1779; lilac broadcloth, spangles, tassels, mother-of-pearl buttons
Physical description
A man’s coat and breeches of lilac woollen broadcloth. The coat has a ⅞-inch (1.8 cm) standing collar, and curving two-piece sleeves ending in a 3¾-inch (8.5 cm) cuff. The fronts curve from neck to hem with pleats 5¼-inch (8.3 cm) deep, below the hip set at the side back. Each front has a pocket with scalloped pocket flap; the centre-back seam is open below the hip. The coat is lined with dark green silk satin, the sleeves and pockets with bleached linen. There are 8 mother-of-pearl buttons, set with silver-gilt and green glass paste, arranged in pairs along the right front. Beside each is an applied decoration – a narrow strip of leather embroidered with green and red foil spangles and silver purl. At the end of each is a tassel of silver frisé, thread and spangles. The same decoration is arranged in pairs along the left front. The top 4 buttonholes have been cut but not worked. There are 3 buttons below each pocket with corresponding decoration on the pocket flaps, and 3 on each cuff. Three buttons adorn the pleats, 1 at the hem, 1 half-way up; the 1 at the top has a tassel on each side.

The breeches comprise 2 fronts, two backs and 2 waistbands, made of lilac woollen broadcloth. The back legs are cut higher than the fronts and gathered into the back of the waistbands. There is a pocket on each front and a watch pocket in the lining of the right front waistbands. The fronts close with buttoned waistbands and a fall front; the back waistbands with eyelets as well as a buckle and strap. The breeches are unlined; the centre back, centre front seams covered with lilac silk tape. The fall front is lined with dark green silk satin, the waistband and pockets with fustian. There are 3 metal and ivory buttons on the front waistband, 1 to fasten each corner of the pocket and 2 for the fall front. On each leg, 2 of the original mother-of-pearl, silver-gilt and glass paste buttons remain; 2 other metal filigree buttons are later replacements. There is a knee-band below of knitted beige silk.
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by Mrs Phoebe Timpson
Object history
Registered File number 1994/409.
Bibliographic reference
Hart, Avril and Susan North, Historical Fashion in Detail: The 17th and 18th Centuries, London: V&A Publications, 1998, p. 126
Collection
Accession number
T.365:1, 2-1995

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdAugust 16, 2006
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest