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Waistcoat

1780-1789 (made), 1870-1895 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Man’s waistcoat with a 1⅛-inch (2.7 cm) standing collar, straight fronts and straight hem reaching to the hip. The fronts are made of cream silk satin, the back of linen. The waistcoat and pockets are lined with linen; the fronts are faced with cream satin. There are wide bands of applied purple satin along the left front, the top of the right front and along the hem of each front, behind which is a pocket. There is a trompe-l'œil revers on each collar. The purple satin is embroidered with silver spangles and pastes and its outlines embroidered with couched black and white silk chenille threads creating a trompe-l'œil fringe. There are 8 worked buttonholes along the lower left front with 8 corresponding embroidered buttons on the lower right front.

The waistcoat was altered in the late 19th century, probably for theatre costume. Insertions were made in the centre back and shoulder seams, and eyelets and cotton tape ties added to the back.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen, cotton, silver; hand-woven satin, hand-embroidered, hand-sewn
Brief description
Man's waistcoat, 1780s, French or British; cream silk satin with purple satin trim, embroidered, altered 1870-1895
Physical description
Man’s waistcoat with a 1⅛-inch (2.7 cm) standing collar, straight fronts and straight hem reaching to the hip. The fronts are made of cream silk satin, the back of linen. The waistcoat and pockets are lined with linen; the fronts are faced with cream satin. There are wide bands of applied purple satin along the left front, the top of the right front and along the hem of each front, behind which is a pocket. There is a trompe-l'œil revers on each collar. The purple satin is embroidered with silver spangles and pastes and its outlines embroidered with couched black and white silk chenille threads creating a trompe-l'œil fringe. There are 8 worked buttonholes along the lower left front with 8 corresponding embroidered buttons on the lower right front.

The waistcoat was altered in the late 19th century, probably for theatre costume. Insertions were made in the centre back and shoulder seams, and eyelets and cotton tape ties added to the back.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 0.40kg
  • Top of right collar to hem length: 64.0cm (approx)
  • Chest under armholes circumference: 125.5cm (approx)
Marks and inscriptions
453 / No 4 (handwritten in black ink on lining of left back)
Collection
Accession number
554-1896

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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