Boy's Suit
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Perkins French
(American, born 1809)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1812
MediumCoat (.a): Hand-stitched cotton, cotton-covered bone buttons.
Pants (.b): Hand-stitched cotton and brass buttons.
Suspenders (.c-.d): Hand-stitched cotton.
Vest (.e): Hand-stitched cotton, with cotton-covered bone (probably) buttons.
Shirt (.f): Hand-stitched linen, with brass cuff links.
DimensionsComponent (coat length x width between shoulders): 16 1/4 x 7 3/4in. (41.3 x 19.7cm)
Component (trouser length x width across waist): 27 3/4 x 11 1/4in. (70.5 x 28.6cm)
Component (suspenders length x width): 16 1/4 x 1 1/4in. (41.3 x 3.2cm)
Component (vest length x width): 10 1/8 x 11in. (25.7 x 27.9cm)
Component (shirt length x width across shoulders): 17 1/2 x 12 1/2in. (44.5 x 31.8cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Carl P. Tomlinson
Object number1958.31.0a-f
DescriptionBoy's suit consisting of a coat (.a), pants (.b), suspenders (.c and .d), vest (.e), and shirt (.f).
Coat: The cutaway coat is made of striped cotton in white, brown, and blue. The coat is double-breasted, with six self-covered buttons. The neckline is bound with self-fabric; the corners of the opening turn back to form revers. The sleeves are smoothly fitted into the armscye; they have a V-notch in the seam at the back of the wrist. There is a pocket over each hip. The coat is vented at the center back to the waistline. Two self-covered buttons decorate the back at either side of the top of the vent.
Pants and Suspenders: Small boy's fall-front, high-waisted pants and suspenders of fabric matching coat (.a). The fall is nine inches wide and fastens to the 3 1/4-inch-wide waistband with three brass shank buttons; the lowest button is shared by the fall. The pants are stitched smoothly into the waistband in front and are slightly gathered in back. A gusset has been added to the center back seam to accommodate the boy's growth. The suspenders attach to the waistband with brass buttons. Fabric has been added to the length of the suspenders to accommodate the boy's growth, so there are now two buttonholes worked on one end of each suspender (also called "braces" in the period).
Vest: Small boy's vest, worn with suit. The vest front is made of dark blue cotton. It has a high, round neck, and closes at center front with three self-covered buttons. The back of the vest is made of plain, undyed cotton. It has been cut up the middle of the back and inserted with a gusset to accommodate the growing boy.
Shirt: Small boy's shirt of white linen, with a wide collar edged with a 1 3/4-inch-wide whipped ruffle. The sleeves are gathered at the shoulder and into the 1 7/8-inch-wide cuff, which fastens with a stamped brass cuff link of a pointed oval shape. The sleeves are gusseted for ease under the arms. The body of the shirt is made of two rectangles of fabric, with a gusset set into the shoulder seam to form the neck edge. The center front is slit for 5 1/2 inches and turns back to form a V-shaped neckline. This front opening edge is finished with the ruffle continuously with the collar. Two thread tacks covered with buttonhole stitching reinforce the bottom of the front slit. The side seams are vented for 4 1/2 inches.
Coat: The cutaway coat is made of striped cotton in white, brown, and blue. The coat is double-breasted, with six self-covered buttons. The neckline is bound with self-fabric; the corners of the opening turn back to form revers. The sleeves are smoothly fitted into the armscye; they have a V-notch in the seam at the back of the wrist. There is a pocket over each hip. The coat is vented at the center back to the waistline. Two self-covered buttons decorate the back at either side of the top of the vent.
Pants and Suspenders: Small boy's fall-front, high-waisted pants and suspenders of fabric matching coat (.a). The fall is nine inches wide and fastens to the 3 1/4-inch-wide waistband with three brass shank buttons; the lowest button is shared by the fall. The pants are stitched smoothly into the waistband in front and are slightly gathered in back. A gusset has been added to the center back seam to accommodate the boy's growth. The suspenders attach to the waistband with brass buttons. Fabric has been added to the length of the suspenders to accommodate the boy's growth, so there are now two buttonholes worked on one end of each suspender (also called "braces" in the period).
Vest: Small boy's vest, worn with suit. The vest front is made of dark blue cotton. It has a high, round neck, and closes at center front with three self-covered buttons. The back of the vest is made of plain, undyed cotton. It has been cut up the middle of the back and inserted with a gusset to accommodate the growing boy.
Shirt: Small boy's shirt of white linen, with a wide collar edged with a 1 3/4-inch-wide whipped ruffle. The sleeves are gathered at the shoulder and into the 1 7/8-inch-wide cuff, which fastens with a stamped brass cuff link of a pointed oval shape. The sleeves are gusseted for ease under the arms. The body of the shirt is made of two rectangles of fabric, with a gusset set into the shoulder seam to form the neck edge. The center front is slit for 5 1/2 inches and turns back to form a V-shaped neckline. This front opening edge is finished with the ruffle continuously with the collar. Two thread tacks covered with buttonhole stitching reinforce the bottom of the front slit. The side seams are vented for 4 1/2 inches.
Status
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