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Coat

1790-1795 (made), 1870-1900 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A man’s court coat of silk figured with light and dark blue, with a 2¼ -inch (6 cm) standing collar, 2-piece sleeves ending in cuffs. The fronts curve from neck to hem with pleats 1¾ inches (4.4 cm) deep, below the hip set beside the centre back. There are no pockets on the fronts, only shaped pocket flap; there is a welted pocket in each front lining. The centre-back seam is open below the hip. The coat and pocket flaps are lined with white silk taffeta, the sleeves and pockets with linen. The coat is appliquéd with white silk satin and net, and embroidered-to-shape with white silk floss and blue and opaque white pastes in a pattern of flowers and feathers, on the collar, cuffs and pocket flaps, around the front neck and pockets, along the fronts and centre-back opening. There are 10 embroidered buttons along the right front, 3 on each cuff, 3 below each pocket, 1 at the top of the pleats. There are 2 worked buttonholes on the left front for the 2nd and 3rd buttons from the top.

The coat was probably worn as theatre costume in the late 19th century. The pleats have been stitched down, the lining patched at the back neck and under the arms and the cuffs shortened.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen, glass; hand-woven, hand-embroidered, hand-sewn.
Brief description
Man's court coat, 1790-95, French; Dark and light blue figured silk, embroidered blue pastes, altered 1870-1900
Physical description
A man’s court coat of silk figured with light and dark blue, with a 2¼ -inch (6 cm) standing collar, 2-piece sleeves ending in cuffs. The fronts curve from neck to hem with pleats 1¾ inches (4.4 cm) deep, below the hip set beside the centre back. There are no pockets on the fronts, only shaped pocket flap; there is a welted pocket in each front lining. The centre-back seam is open below the hip. The coat and pocket flaps are lined with white silk taffeta, the sleeves and pockets with linen. The coat is appliquéd with white silk satin and net, and embroidered-to-shape with white silk floss and blue and opaque white pastes in a pattern of flowers and feathers, on the collar, cuffs and pocket flaps, around the front neck and pockets, along the fronts and centre-back opening. There are 10 embroidered buttons along the right front, 3 on each cuff, 3 below each pocket, 1 at the top of the pleats. There are 2 worked buttonholes on the left front for the 2nd and 3rd buttons from the top.

The coat was probably worn as theatre costume in the late 19th century. The pleats have been stitched down, the lining patched at the back neck and under the arms and the cuffs shortened.
Dimensions
  • Top of right collar to hem length: 103.5cm (approx)
  • Chest under armholes circumference: 106.5cm (approx)
Collection
Accession number
826-1904

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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