Vest and Breeches
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1790 to 1810
MediumVest: Hand-stitched silk, cotton, and linen with silk-covered wood buttons.
Breeches: Hand-stitched silk and linen, with brass buttons, and silk/cotton covered bone or wood buttons. Cotton repair fabric.
DimensionsComponent (Breeches: length along side x width across waist): 25 3/4 x 15 1/2in. (65.4 x 39.4cm)
Component (Vest: center back length x width across chest): 21 1/4 x 17 1/4in. (54 x 43.8cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1983.165.0a,b
DescriptionVest (a): Man's vest of black satin with very high standing collar and double-breasted front. The eight buttons are self-covered wooden disks. There is a 5 1/4-inch-wide faux pocket on each lower side. The back of the vest is plain, undyed linen. The front of the vest is lined with plain, undyed cotton.
Breeches (b): Man's black silk satin breeches with a broad fall. The fall is 10 3/4 inches wide across the center front; it fastens with a small (1/2-inch diameter) brass shank button at each corner. The waistband is four inches wide at center front; it fastens with two oval black/brown twill-covered buttons. A pocket is set into the proper right side of the waistband. The breeches are smooth across the front and pleated into the back. The center back seam and waistband are open for 5 1/4 inches. Eyelets in the waistband would be laced to adjust the fit. The leg side openings have been sewn shut. Originally, they would have closed with four, probably self-covered buttons, but these have been replaced with six 3/4-inch-diameter brass shank buttons. The buckles on the kneebands are probably also replacements.
Breeches (b): Man's black silk satin breeches with a broad fall. The fall is 10 3/4 inches wide across the center front; it fastens with a small (1/2-inch diameter) brass shank button at each corner. The waistband is four inches wide at center front; it fastens with two oval black/brown twill-covered buttons. A pocket is set into the proper right side of the waistband. The breeches are smooth across the front and pleated into the back. The center back seam and waistband are open for 5 1/4 inches. Eyelets in the waistband would be laced to adjust the fit. The leg side openings have been sewn shut. Originally, they would have closed with four, probably self-covered buttons, but these have been replaced with six 3/4-inch-diameter brass shank buttons. The buckles on the kneebands are probably also replacements.
Status
Not on view
