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

Waistcoat

1750-1755 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Man’s waistcoat with a round neck, curving 2-piece sleeves, curved fronts and skirts reaching to the top of the knee. Each front has a pocket and shaped pocket flap. The fronts, back skirts, pocket flaps and cuffs are made of brown silk cut and uncut velvet on a voided ivory satin ground; the sleeves and back of brown woollen broadcloth. The waistcoat, sleeves and pockets are lined with unbleached linen; the front facings and linings of the skirts, pocket flaps and cuffs are brown silk twill. The fronts, back skirts and cuffs are woven-to-shape in a pattern of flowers, leaves and undulating ribbon against a ground of repeating ogee shapes, along the front edges and hems, cuff and centre-back openings. There are 14 worked buttonholes along the left front edge and 1 on each cuff. There were 14 (5 now missing) corresponding buttons covered with brown silk thread on the right front and 1 on each cuff.

The waistcoat was altered for size, probably during the lifetime of the wearer; insertions of brown cotton velvet were made in the side seams, and grey broadcloth in the sleeves.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen, cotton, wool; hand-woven, velvet weave, hand-sewn
Brief description
Man's sleeved waistcoat, 1750-55, British or French; brown silk velvet, woven-to-shape, Lyons
Physical description
Man’s waistcoat with a round neck, curving 2-piece sleeves, curved fronts and skirts reaching to the top of the knee. Each front has a pocket and shaped pocket flap. The fronts, back skirts, pocket flaps and cuffs are made of brown silk cut and uncut velvet on a voided ivory satin ground; the sleeves and back of brown woollen broadcloth. The waistcoat, sleeves and pockets are lined with unbleached linen; the front facings and linings of the skirts, pocket flaps and cuffs are brown silk twill. The fronts, back skirts and cuffs are woven-to-shape in a pattern of flowers, leaves and undulating ribbon against a ground of repeating ogee shapes, along the front edges and hems, cuff and centre-back openings. There are 14 worked buttonholes along the left front edge and 1 on each cuff. There were 14 (5 now missing) corresponding buttons covered with brown silk thread on the right front and 1 on each cuff.

The waistcoat was altered for size, probably during the lifetime of the wearer; insertions of brown cotton velvet were made in the side seams, and grey broadcloth in the sleeves.
Dimensions
  • Right shoulder to hem length: 98.5cm (approx)
  • Chest under armholes circumference: 108.5cm (approx)
Collection
Accession number
660-1898

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