Waistcoat thumbnail 1
Waistcoat thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Waistcoat

1780-1785 (made), 1870-1910 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Man’s waistcoat with a standing 1-inch (2.5 cm) collar, curving fronts and skirts reaching to the top of the thigh. Each front has a pocket and pointed pocket flap. The fronts and pocket flaps are made of ivory silk taffeta. The waistcoat fronts and pockets are lined with bleached linen; the front skirt and pocket-flap linings and front facings are ivory silk taffeta. The waistcoat is embroidered-to-shape with silk floss in white, black, blue and shades of pink and green, in a pattern of flowers and a row of circles imitating beads on the pocket flaps, front edges and hems, and below the pockets. The fronts are filled with repeated floral sprigs and diamonds embroidered in silk floss. There are 11 worked buttonholes along the left front with 11 embroidered buttons on the right front.

The waistcoat was altered in the late 19th century, probably for fancy dress or a studio prop; the back was replaced.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen; hand-woven, hand-embroidered, hand-sewn
Brief description
Man's waistcoat, 1780-85, British; ivory silk, embroidered coloured silks, altered 1870-1910
Physical description
Man’s waistcoat with a standing 1-inch (2.5 cm) collar, curving fronts and skirts reaching to the top of the thigh. Each front has a pocket and pointed pocket flap. The fronts and pocket flaps are made of ivory silk taffeta. The waistcoat fronts and pockets are lined with bleached linen; the front skirt and pocket-flap linings and front facings are ivory silk taffeta. The waistcoat is embroidered-to-shape with silk floss in white, black, blue and shades of pink and green, in a pattern of flowers and a row of circles imitating beads on the pocket flaps, front edges and hems, and below the pockets. The fronts are filled with repeated floral sprigs and diamonds embroidered in silk floss. There are 11 worked buttonholes along the left front with 11 embroidered buttons on the right front.

The waistcoat was altered in the late 19th century, probably for fancy dress or a studio prop; the back was replaced.
Dimensions
  • Top of right collar to hem length: 68.5cm (approx)
  • Chest under armholes circumference: 81.0cm (approx)
Collection
Accession number
T.346-1920

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