Sleeveless Coat thumbnail 1
Sleeveless Coat thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sleeveless Coat

1800-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Frivolous tassels and bold embroidery distract the eye from the simple construction of this felt coat. The front opening has been bound with blue cloth. Two strips of felt - one red and one blue - have been sewn onto the front panel, which has then been covered with silk and cotton embroidery. The shoulder seam and the armholes have been trimmed with dark brown woollen cords. Red and dark red tassels have been knotted around these cords: 15 cm ones around the armhole and 8 cm ones along the shoulder. Some of them have been threaded through red and white glass beads. The wool used for the tassels had been very tightly spun so that each thread coils back along its own length creating a wild mane of colour and movement.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Felt, embroidered with wool and trimmed with woollen tassels
Brief description
Felted wool sleeveless coat, 19th century, Macedonain: Bitolj
Physical description
Woman's sleeveless coat, felt embroidered with wool and trimmed with woollen tassels.
Dimensions
  • Length: 86.4cm (Note: measurement converted from department register)
  • Across shoulders width: 40.6cm (Note: measurement converted from department register)
Subject depicted
Summary
Frivolous tassels and bold embroidery distract the eye from the simple construction of this felt coat. The front opening has been bound with blue cloth. Two strips of felt - one red and one blue - have been sewn onto the front panel, which has then been covered with silk and cotton embroidery. The shoulder seam and the armholes have been trimmed with dark brown woollen cords. Red and dark red tassels have been knotted around these cords: 15 cm ones around the armhole and 8 cm ones along the shoulder. Some of them have been threaded through red and white glass beads. The wool used for the tassels had been very tightly spun so that each thread coils back along its own length creating a wild mane of colour and movement.
Bibliographic reference
Crill, Rosemary, Jennifer Wearden and Verity Wilson. Dress in Detail from Around the World. London: V&A Publications, 2002. 224 p., ill. ISBN 09781851773787. p. 216
Collection
Accession number
T.42-1927

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 10, 2004
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest