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

Waistcoat

Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Minstrel costume of short single-breasted waistcoat with pointed front lined with cream cotton.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Costume worn by G H Elliott, from Morris Angel & Sons Ltd
Physical description
Minstrel costume of short single-breasted waistcoat with pointed front lined with cream cotton.
Dimensions
  • Waistcoat, weight weight: 0.5kg
  • Waistcoat, armpit to armpit width, laid flat width: 44cm
  • Waistcoat, collar to hem, laid flat length: 45cm
Object history
G H Elliott was a blackface performer. 'Black and white minstrels' or 'blackface minstrelsy' originated in the United States around 1830 and was based on racist negative stereotypes of African Americans. White performers used black make-up to blacken their skin. Blackface minstrelsy played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist attitudes.
Collection
Accession number
S.148A-1988

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Record createdMay 14, 2004
Record URL
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