Waistcoat
Waistcoat
ca. 1870 (made)
ca. 1870 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Sight and touch are the senses most associated with dress - we are beguiled by the colours, shapes, textures and movement of what is worn. We seldom need our sense of hearing to observe dress, except perhaps to catch the creak of leather or the rustle of silk. But the purely decorative buttons on this sombre waistcoat are truly musical. Individually they are silent, but placed together they jostle with their neighbour and tinkle and clang like alpine cowbells. Silent, stealthy movement is impossible. Each button’s smooth, rounded underside contrasts sharply with the dull coils and chains of wire that cover its top and that encase small shiny beads. The light that glints from the beads appears to be absorbed by the fine black felt from which the waistcoat is made.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Waistcoat |
Materials and techniques | Felt, embroidered with silk cord and trimmed with metal buttons |
Brief description | Women's waistcoat, felt, wool, Germany, 1800s |
Physical description | Waistcoat, possibly for a child, felt embroidered with silk cord and trimmed with metal buttons. German, 19th century. |
Summary | Sight and touch are the senses most associated with dress - we are beguiled by the colours, shapes, textures and movement of what is worn. We seldom need our sense of hearing to observe dress, except perhaps to catch the creak of leather or the rustle of silk. But the purely decorative buttons on this sombre waistcoat are truly musical. Individually they are silent, but placed together they jostle with their neighbour and tinkle and clang like alpine cowbells. Silent, stealthy movement is impossible. Each button’s smooth, rounded underside contrasts sharply with the dull coils and chains of wire that cover its top and that encase small shiny beads. The light that glints from the beads appears to be absorbed by the fine black felt from which the waistcoat is made. |
Bibliographic reference | Crill, Rosemary, Jennifer Wearden and Verity Wilson. Dress in Detail from Around the World. London: V&A Publications, 2002. 224 p., ill. ISBN 09781851773787. p. 210 |
Collection | |
Accession number | 971-1872 |
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Record created | February 10, 2004 |
Record URL |
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