Coat thumbnail 1
Coat thumbnail 2
+2
images
Not on display

Coat

1775-1780 (made), 1870-1910 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A man’s coat of silk with narrow stripes of brown uncut velvet, alternating with brown and voided white. It has a 2½ -inch (6.5 cm) standing collar and curving 2-piece sleeves end in cuffs 3½-inch (9 cm) deep. The fronts curve from neck to hem with pleats 2½-inch (6.4 cm) deep, below the hip set at the side back. Each front has a pocket with rectangular pocket flap; the centre-back seam is open below the hip. The coat and pocket flaps are lined with ivory silk twill, the sleeves and pockets with linen. There are 9 self-covered buttons along the right front, 3 on each cuff, 1 at the hem and top the pleats and 1 above the centre-back opening.

The coat was probably worn for fancy dress in the late 19th century; parts of the lining have been recovered, the hems of the pleats have been stitched down. The 2 buttonholes corresponding with the centre 2 buttons were probably added at this time. There are remnants of a net ruffle inside the right cuff.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen; hand-woven, hand-sewn
Brief description
Man's coat, 1775-1780, British; Brown and white striped uncut silk velvet, altered 1870-1910
Physical description
A man’s coat of silk with narrow stripes of brown uncut velvet, alternating with brown and voided white. It has a 2½ -inch (6.5 cm) standing collar and curving 2-piece sleeves end in cuffs 3½-inch (9 cm) deep. The fronts curve from neck to hem with pleats 2½-inch (6.4 cm) deep, below the hip set at the side back. Each front has a pocket with rectangular pocket flap; the centre-back seam is open below the hip. The coat and pocket flaps are lined with ivory silk twill, the sleeves and pockets with linen. There are 9 self-covered buttons along the right front, 3 on each cuff, 1 at the hem and top the pleats and 1 above the centre-back opening.

The coat was probably worn for fancy dress in the late 19th century; parts of the lining have been recovered, the hems of the pleats have been stitched down. The 2 buttonholes corresponding with the centre 2 buttons were probably added at this time. There are remnants of a net ruffle inside the right cuff.
Dimensions
  • Top of right collar to hem length: 110.0cm (approx)
  • Chest under armholes circumference: 109.0cm (approx)
Collection
Accession number
T.5-1937

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 createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest