Smoking Suit thumbnail 1
Smoking Suit thumbnail 2
+3
images
Not on display

Smoking Suit

1865-1875 (made)
Place of origin
Japan (made)

Smoking suit, plain weave silk (habutae) with embroidery in silks threads and silk braid (kumihimo); quilted silk lining, Japan, probably Yokohama, 1865- 1875; made for the western market and probably retailed by S. Shobey (Shiino Shobei), Yokohama

Object details

Categories
Fashion
Embroidery
Men's Clothes
Smoking Accessories
Object type
Smoking suit
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Jacket
  • Trousers
Materials and techniques
Silk (Textile)
Embroidery
Brief description
Smoking suit, plain weave silk (habutae) with embroidery in silks threads and silk braid (kumihimo); quilted silk lining, Japan, probably Yokohama, 1865- 1875; made for the western market and probably retailed by S. Shobey (Shiino Shobei), Yokohama
Dimensions
  • Jacket length: 87cm
Gallery label
(29/09/2020)
The Japanese silk merchant Shiino Shōbei established the world’s first global fashion brand. He opened a shop in Yokohama in 1859, the year this treaty port was established. Trading under the name S. Shobey, he exported silk garments and accessories to Europe and America. The shape of the jacket and trousers is European, but the silk, colourful embroidery and braided cords are distinctly Japanese.
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
FE.259:1,2-2020

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 Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis.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 createdOctober 1, 2019
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1512953/smoking-suit/
Download as: JSON