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Waistcoat
Unknown - Enlarge image
Waistcoat
- Place of origin:
France (made)
- Date:
1730-1739 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown (production)
- Materials and Techniques:
Silk, silver and silver-gilt threads and spangles; hand-sewn and hand-embroidered
- Museum number:
408-1882
- Gallery location:
In Storage
The metal threads of this dazzling waistcoat have been embroidered so densely that not a speck of the white satin fabric underneath can be seen. A pattern of leaves and flowers has been worked in silver-gilt spangles (sequins) and threads in a variety of textures. The ground in between has been embroidered in silver thread. Most of the metal threads are lying on the surface of the waistcoat, held in place by silk threads, in a technique known as couching. By using very fine silks for couching, white for the silver threads and yellow for the silver-gilt, the tiny stitches holding the metal thread in place are cleverly concealed.
The waistcoat has been cut away at the armholes, probably for fancy dress in the late 19th century.
