Waistcoat Part
1700-1729 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is the front of a woman’s waistcoat (informal bodice) of the early 18th century, intended for wearing under a loose robe open at the front. The back of the bodice, which has not survived, would probably have been made of plain linen. An embroidered pattern of fantastical birds with large blossoms and leaves covers the front. It combines stylistic elements of chinoiserie design in the birds and aspects of late 17th century English embroidery in the flowers and leaves. The background is cord quilted, a quilting technique where instead of padding, thin cords are inserted between parallel lines of stitching.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen, cord quilted and embroidered with silk thread |
| Brief description | Front of a woman's waistcoat of linen, cord quilted and embroidered with silk thread, England, 1700-1729 |
| Physical description | Fronts of a woman's waistcoat of linen, corded and embroidered with coloured silks in a pattern of fantastical birds and large flowers and leaves. The ground is quilted in backstitch with white silk in a pattern of overlapping, parallel curves. The lining has been removed. There are three yellow silk tapes for tying. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Bodice Front
Linen embroidered and quilted with coloured silks
English, early 18th century
494-1902
This women's informal bodice was first embroidered with a design combining exotic birds in the Chinoiserie style with large blossoms and leaves more often found in large English furnishings. It was then quilted in a technique known as cord quilting in which narrow cords are inserted between the lines of stitching to create a slightly raised ground. The back of the bodice, which has not survive, would probably have been a plain fabric and would have been concealed by an outer robe. |
| Object history | Displayed in Costume Court, 1962-1979. Purchased. Registered File number 10961/1902 and 81754/1902. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is the front of a woman’s waistcoat (informal bodice) of the early 18th century, intended for wearing under a loose robe open at the front. The back of the bodice, which has not survived, would probably have been made of plain linen. An embroidered pattern of fantastical birds with large blossoms and leaves covers the front. It combines stylistic elements of chinoiserie design in the birds and aspects of late 17th century English embroidery in the flowers and leaves. The background is cord quilted, a quilting technique where instead of padding, thin cords are inserted between parallel lines of stitching. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 494-1902 |
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| Record created | December 15, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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