Waistcoat
1740-1749 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Glistening silver embroidery decorates the pocket flap of this blue silk waistcoat dating from the 1740s. Silver thread, purl (metal thread wound into a short coil), strip and spangles (sequins) comprise the decoration which covers the pocket flaps and the front and lower edges of the waistcoat. Each pocket flap has a button stitched on both corners and four sewn below. All are decorative and there are no buttonholes.
This waistcoat could have formed part of a wedding ensemble, as the combination of blue and silver was fashionable for the bridegroom in the 18th century. In Samuel Richardson’s novel, Pamela (1741), Mr B. wears such a waistcoat to his wedding to Pamela. Similarly, the hero of The Adventures of Sir Lancelot Greaves, by Tobias Smollet (1760) marries in a ‘white coat and blue sattin vest, both embroidered with silver’.
This waistcoat could have formed part of a wedding ensemble, as the combination of blue and silver was fashionable for the bridegroom in the 18th century. In Samuel Richardson’s novel, Pamela (1741), Mr B. wears such a waistcoat to his wedding to Pamela. Similarly, the hero of The Adventures of Sir Lancelot Greaves, by Tobias Smollet (1760) marries in a ‘white coat and blue sattin vest, both embroidered with silver’.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silk, linen and possibly horsehair, hand woven and hand sewn, silver |
| Brief description | M, British, 1740s; Sleeveless, blue silk embroidered with silver thread |
| Physical description | A man's waistcoat of blue ribbed silk, embroidered with silver thread, strip, purl and spangles, lined with silk |
| Style | |
| Production type | Unique |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs C. C. Stisted |
| Summary | Glistening silver embroidery decorates the pocket flap of this blue silk waistcoat dating from the 1740s. Silver thread, purl (metal thread wound into a short coil), strip and spangles (sequins) comprise the decoration which covers the pocket flaps and the front and lower edges of the waistcoat. Each pocket flap has a button stitched on both corners and four sewn below. All are decorative and there are no buttonholes. This waistcoat could have formed part of a wedding ensemble, as the combination of blue and silver was fashionable for the bridegroom in the 18th century. In Samuel Richardson’s novel, Pamela (1741), Mr B. wears such a waistcoat to his wedding to Pamela. Similarly, the hero of The Adventures of Sir Lancelot Greaves, by Tobias Smollet (1760) marries in a ‘white coat and blue sattin vest, both embroidered with silver’. |
| Bibliographic reference | Hart, Avril and Susan North, Historical Fashion in Detail: The 17th and 18th Centuries, London: V&A Publications, 1998, p. 98
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.29-1950 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 15, 2006 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
