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Waistcoat

1790-1799 (made), 1879-1890 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Man's waistcoat with a 2½-inch (6.3 cm) standing collar, revers, straight fronts and hems, hip length. There are no pockets, only a pocket welt on each front. The fronts, collar, pocket welts and revers are made of white silk satin, the back of bleached fustian. The waistcoat and pockets are lined with linen. The fronts, collars, revers and pocket welts are embroidered-to-shape with silver spangles and 1/16-inch (2 mm) wide silk ribbon in white, blue and brown, in a pattern abstract flowers and leaves, on the pocket welts, collar, revers and along the front edges and hems. The fronts are embroidered with silk ribbon in a pattern of repeating abstract floral sprigs. There are 12 worked buttonholes along the left front with 11 plain silk-covered buttons on the right front edge, and 2 pairs of tape ties on the back.

The waistcoat was altered in the 19th century, probably for fancy dress; a wide triangle of cotton was added to the centre-back seam.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, cotton, linen, silver; hand-woven, satin weave, hand-embroidered, ribbon embroidery, hand-sewn
Brief description
Man's waistcoat, 1790s, British; white silk satin, ribbon embroidery & spangles, altered 1870-90
Physical description
Man's waistcoat with a 2½-inch (6.3 cm) standing collar, revers, straight fronts and hems, hip length. There are no pockets, only a pocket welt on each front. The fronts, collar, pocket welts and revers are made of white silk satin, the back of bleached fustian. The waistcoat and pockets are lined with linen. The fronts, collars, revers and pocket welts are embroidered-to-shape with silver spangles and 1/16-inch (2 mm) wide silk ribbon in white, blue and brown, in a pattern abstract flowers and leaves, on the pocket welts, collar, revers and along the front edges and hems. The fronts are embroidered with silk ribbon in a pattern of repeating abstract floral sprigs. There are 12 worked buttonholes along the left front with 11 plain silk-covered buttons on the right front edge, and 2 pairs of tape ties on the back.

The waistcoat was altered in the 19th century, probably for fancy dress; a wide triangle of cotton was added to the centre-back seam.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 0.42kg
  • Top of right collar to hem length: 62.0cm (approx)
  • Chest under armholes circumference: 112.5cm (approx)
Collection
Accession number
562-1896

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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