Coat thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Coat

1760s (made), 1870-1910 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A man's coat of tawny velvet. The neckline is round with a narrow standing collar (2.5 cm). The shaped, two-piece sleeves end above the wrist with a round cuff. The coat fronts curve from neck to hem with skirts below the hip, arranged in pleats. There is an inverted pleat on each side of the centre back opening. There is a scalloped pocket flap on each front at hip level. The pockets are lined with unbleached linen, the pockt flaps with oyster-coloured silk satin. The coat is embroidered to shape with appliqued velvet flowers and embroidery in coloured silks and silver purl, on the collar, down the fronts, on the side of the front skirts, the cuffs and pocket flaps, around the pockets at the back vent. There were 10 buttons (top 2 now missing), covered with velvet and embroidered with silver purl, on the right front, with on buttonhole, cut and worked in tawny silk twist on the left front, corresponding to the 3rd button from the neck. There are 3 buttons below the pocket flaps, 3 on the cuffs, one above the side pleats and one holding them at the hem.

The coat has been altered in the late 19th century or early 20th century for wear in the theatre or as a studio prop. The lining has been patched and replaced in areas with lining and white silk satin. The pleats have been unstitched. The lining of the sleeves has been taken out, the cuffs removed, inverted and lengthened and reattached.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen, silk thread, linen thread, silver purl; hand-woven velvet, satin, hand-embroidered, hand-sewn
Brief description
A man's coat, 1760s, probably French; Tawny velvet, embroidered flowers, in floss, chenille, metal threads; altered 1870-1910
Physical description
A man's coat of tawny velvet. The neckline is round with a narrow standing collar (2.5 cm). The shaped, two-piece sleeves end above the wrist with a round cuff. The coat fronts curve from neck to hem with skirts below the hip, arranged in pleats. There is an inverted pleat on each side of the centre back opening. There is a scalloped pocket flap on each front at hip level. The pockets are lined with unbleached linen, the pockt flaps with oyster-coloured silk satin. The coat is embroidered to shape with appliqued velvet flowers and embroidery in coloured silks and silver purl, on the collar, down the fronts, on the side of the front skirts, the cuffs and pocket flaps, around the pockets at the back vent. There were 10 buttons (top 2 now missing), covered with velvet and embroidered with silver purl, on the right front, with on buttonhole, cut and worked in tawny silk twist on the left front, corresponding to the 3rd button from the neck. There are 3 buttons below the pocket flaps, 3 on the cuffs, one above the side pleats and one holding them at the hem.

The coat has been altered in the late 19th century or early 20th century for wear in the theatre or as a studio prop. The lining has been patched and replaced in areas with lining and white silk satin. The pleats have been unstitched. The lining of the sleeves has been taken out, the cuffs removed, inverted and lengthened and reattached.
Dimensions
  • Shoulder to hem at right front length: 111.0cm (approx)
  • Chest under armholes circumference: 113.0cm (approx)
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by Messrs. Harrods
Object history
Part of the Talbot Hughes collection, acquired in 1913
Collection
Accession number
T.698-1913

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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