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

Coat

1770-1779 (made), 1870-1910 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A man's coat of tawny silk velvet, cut and voided in a small chequer-board pattern. It has a round neckline with a standing collar. The shaped, two-piece sleeves end above the wrist with round cuffs (13 cm deep). The fronts curve from neck to hem with skirts below the hip, set in pleats (13 cm) at the side seams. There is a scalloped pocket flap on each front at hip level. The coat is embroidered with silver thread, spangles and silver-foiled glass paste, in a pattern of floral sprays, down the fronts, around the back vent, on and around the pocket flaps and on the cuffs.

The coat has been altered in the late 19th or early 20th century, probably for theatrical costume. The collar has been folded down and re-lined. The coat fronts and back have been re-lined with pale blue linen; parts of the original blue silk lining - pinked on one side - remain in the skirt pleats. The pleats have been cut away and reset, to provide velvet for patching under the arms. The sleeves have been lengthened under the cuffs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen silk thread, linen thread, silver, glass paste; hand-woven velvet, hand-embroidered, hand-sewn
Brief description
A man's coat, 1770s, French; Uncut and voided tawny silk velvet, embroidered silver spangles, pastes; altered 1870-1910
Physical description
A man's coat of tawny silk velvet, cut and voided in a small chequer-board pattern. It has a round neckline with a standing collar. The shaped, two-piece sleeves end above the wrist with round cuffs (13 cm deep). The fronts curve from neck to hem with skirts below the hip, set in pleats (13 cm) at the side seams. There is a scalloped pocket flap on each front at hip level. The coat is embroidered with silver thread, spangles and silver-foiled glass paste, in a pattern of floral sprays, down the fronts, around the back vent, on and around the pocket flaps and on the cuffs.

The coat has been altered in the late 19th or early 20th century, probably for theatrical costume. The collar has been folded down and re-lined. The coat fronts and back have been re-lined with pale blue linen; parts of the original blue silk lining - pinked on one side - remain in the skirt pleats. The pleats have been cut away and reset, to provide velvet for patching under the arms. The sleeves have been lengthened under the cuffs.
Dimensions
  • Collar to hem at right front length: 104.0cm (approx)
  • Chest under armholes circumference: 106.0cm (approx)
Production typeUnique
Collection
Accession number
T.848-1919

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