Wedding Waistcoat
1844-January 1845 (made), 28 January 1845 (worn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This waistcoat was worn by John Montefiore (1820-1895) when he married Julia Norman on 28 January 1845. Cream or white silk waistcoats were popular for weddings at this time and many survive in museum collections. The small scale floral pattern of this waistcoat, woven here in silver thread, reflects bridal fashions of the period. A hand-written paper label sewn into this waistcoat records the bridegroom's name, and the wedding date. John Montefiore was born in Barbados. He moved to England to look after the British business interests of his father, the merchant and plantation owner John Castello Montefiore.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | silk brocaded with silver, lined glazed cotton, twilled silk back |
| Brief description | Wedding waistcoat, 1845, English; silk brocade. Worn by John Montefiore on 28th January 1845 |
| Physical description | White silk satin waistcoat woven with silver in a floral and vermicular design, 6 self covered buttons down front and turn down collar. Lined in cream glazed cotton. The back of the waistcoat made from cream twill weave silk. 4 cream silk adjustment ties in back |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Bridegroom's Waistcoat.
Worn by Mr John Montefiore
28th January 1845 (Hand-written label attached to inside of waistcoat front) |
| Gallery label | Silk waistcoat with silver thread
Britain
1845
White silk wedding waistcoats patterned with silver thread were popular in the 1840s and 1850s. The expensive metal threads made the fabric suitable for special occasions and silver, which has connotations of purity, was associated with weddings. John Montefiore, a London merchant trading in the West Indies, wore the waistcoat for his marriage to Julia Norman.
Silk, lined with glazed cotton, with silver thread
Given by the Misses Montefiore in memory of the late John Montefiore, Esq.
V&A: T.668-1919(2011) |
| Credit line | Given by the Misses Montefiore in memory of the late John Montefiore, Esq. |
| Object history | Worn by Mr John Montefiore (1820-1895) for his marriage to Julia Norman (1820-1895) on 28 January 1845, and given to the V&A in 1919 by the Misses Montefiore in accordance with the wishes of his son (unclear whether he was their father or brother), also called John Montefiore (1851-1916) |
| Summary | This waistcoat was worn by John Montefiore (1820-1895) when he married Julia Norman on 28 January 1845. Cream or white silk waistcoats were popular for weddings at this time and many survive in museum collections. The small scale floral pattern of this waistcoat, woven here in silver thread, reflects bridal fashions of the period. A hand-written paper label sewn into this waistcoat records the bridegroom's name, and the wedding date. John Montefiore was born in Barbados. He moved to England to look after the British business interests of his father, the merchant and plantation owner John Castello Montefiore. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.668-1919 |
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| Record created | May 8, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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