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Suit thumbnail 2
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This object consists of 3 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Suit

1770-1779 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A man’s summer suit, comprising coat, waistcoat and breeches, made of beige silk taffeta. The coat has a 1-inch (2.5 cm) standing collar, and curving two-piece sleeves ending in a 3½-inch (9 cm) cuff. The fronts curve from neck to hem with 3¼-inch (8.3 cm) pleats below the hip set at the side back. Each front has a pocket with scalloped pocket flap; the centre-back seam is open below the hip. The coat is unlined; exposed seams are backstitched and felled. The fronts are faced, and the skirts, collar and pocket flaps lined with carnation-pink silk taffeta, the pockets with bleached linen. There are 10 worked buttonholes along the left front and 10 corresponding buttons, covered with beige silk and thread on the right, 1 at the top and 1 at the hem of the pleats.

The waistcoat is made of beige silk taffeta with a round neck, curving fronts, skirts reaching between the middle and top of the thigh and curving 2-piece sleeves. Each front has a pocket and scalloped pocket flap. The waistcoat is unlined; exposed seams are backstitched and felled. The fronts and cuff openings are faced, and the skirts and pocket flaps lined with carnation-pink silk taffeta. There are 12 worked buttonholes along the left front and on each sleeve; 12 corresponding silk and thread-covered buttons on the right front and 1 on each sleeve.

The breeches comprise 2 fronts, two backs and 2 waistbands, made of beige silk taffeta. The back legs are cut higher than the fronts and gathered into the back of the waistbands. There is a watch pocket in the lining of the right front waistbands. The fronts close with buttoned waistbands and a fall front; the back waistbands with eyelets. The breeches are unlined; exposed seams (except the outside leg) are backstitched and felled. There are 2 silk and thread-covered buttons on the waistband, 1 on each front side, corresponding to 2 buttonholes on the waistband and 3 on the fall front. Five buttons and buttonholes fasten each outside leg, with a knee-band below.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Coat
  • Breeches
  • Waistcoat
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen; hand-woven, hand-sewn
Brief description
Man's summer suit consisting of coat, waistcoat and breeches, beige silk, British, 1770-1779.
Physical description
A man’s summer suit, comprising coat, waistcoat and breeches, made of beige silk taffeta. The coat has a 1-inch (2.5 cm) standing collar, and curving two-piece sleeves ending in a 3½-inch (9 cm) cuff. The fronts curve from neck to hem with 3¼-inch (8.3 cm) pleats below the hip set at the side back. Each front has a pocket with scalloped pocket flap; the centre-back seam is open below the hip. The coat is unlined; exposed seams are backstitched and felled. The fronts are faced, and the skirts, collar and pocket flaps lined with carnation-pink silk taffeta, the pockets with bleached linen. There are 10 worked buttonholes along the left front and 10 corresponding buttons, covered with beige silk and thread on the right, 1 at the top and 1 at the hem of the pleats.

The waistcoat is made of beige silk taffeta with a round neck, curving fronts, skirts reaching between the middle and top of the thigh and curving 2-piece sleeves. Each front has a pocket and scalloped pocket flap. The waistcoat is unlined; exposed seams are backstitched and felled. The fronts and cuff openings are faced, and the skirts and pocket flaps lined with carnation-pink silk taffeta. There are 12 worked buttonholes along the left front and on each sleeve; 12 corresponding silk and thread-covered buttons on the right front and 1 on each sleeve.

The breeches comprise 2 fronts, two backs and 2 waistbands, made of beige silk taffeta. The back legs are cut higher than the fronts and gathered into the back of the waistbands. There is a watch pocket in the lining of the right front waistbands. The fronts close with buttoned waistbands and a fall front; the back waistbands with eyelets. The breeches are unlined; exposed seams (except the outside leg) are backstitched and felled. There are 2 silk and thread-covered buttons on the waistband, 1 on each front side, corresponding to 2 buttonholes on the waistband and 3 on the fall front. Five buttons and buttonholes fasten each outside leg, with a knee-band below.
Credit line
Given by Mrs Phoebe Timpson
Object history
Registered File number 1994/409.
Collection
Accession number
T.359:1 to 3-1995

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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