Boy's Suit
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1880-1890
MediumBlouse (.a) and pants (.b): Machine-stitched wool, with hand-stitched silk embroidery and mother of pearl buttons. Pants (.b) also have brass rivets.
Hat (.c): Machine-stitched wool, with hand-stitched silk embroidery, silk ribbon, mother of pearl buttons, and stiffening materials.
DimensionsComponent (blouse length x width across shoulders): 21 1/4 x 15 1/2in. (54 x 39.4cm)
Component (pants length x width across waist): 21 1/4 x 11 1/4in. (54 x 28.6cm)
Component (hat height x width x circumference): 2 1/2 x 10 3/8 x 32 3/8in. (6.4 x 26.4 x 82.2cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Helen E. Royce
Object number1955.10.7a-c
DescriptionBoy's sailor suit, consisting of a blouse (.a) and pants (.b) of blue, twill-woven wool. The blouse has a sailor collar, bordered with red herringbone stitch embroidery and three rows of white silk (?) tape. The yoke of the blouse has a serpentine lower edge, embroidered with red and white herringbone stitches and blue feather stitches. There are two breast pockets, edged with black silk tape and embroidered like the yoke edge, with the ends of the pockets embroidered with red, white, and blue triangles. The long sleeves are set smoothly into the armscye. Each sleeve has an embroidered patch: the left sleeve patch design resembles two bottles, and the right patch has a design of an eagle, shield, and anchor, along with a star. The sleeves are pleated into the cuffs, which are embroidered and laid with white tape like the collar. The cuffs fasten with a single mother of pearl button. The back of the yoke is straight and embroidered along the edge like the front. The corners of the sailor collar in back are embroidered with red, white, and blue stars. The bottom edge of the blouse is cut in a dovetail-like pattern. The yoke is lined with self-fabric.
The pants (.b) have a fall front, which closes with twelve mother of pearl buttons. The fall is bordered with red, white, and blue embroidery similar to the yoke. The bottom corners of the fall are embroidered with red, white, and blue triangles like the breast pockets. The top center of the fall is decoratively slit, embroidered with a triangle, and laced with a black silk cord ending in tassels. The center front fastens with two buttons under the fall. The top edge of the pants is embroidered with red herringbone stitch. The top of the pants are lined with a two-tone blue and white woven checked cotton. The center back is laced with a cord, like the top of the fall in front. The fabric under this lacing is cut with a dovetail edge.
The hat (.c) is dark blue wool decorated with embroidery in light blue, orange, and ivory silk floss. The round top of the crown has an embroidered design, the center of which is a solid pattern of the three colors with ten-point stars. This central decoration is surrounded by four concentric circles of orange and light blue embroidery. The outside pattern is large scallops in all three colors. The front of the headband is also embroidered with a line of light blue floss around the gold lettering. The gold lettering is on a strip of black grosgrain ribbon. Two layers of the same ribbon are stitched to the proper left side; 9 1/2 inches long and sewn just in the center with three small mother of pearl buttons. These ribbons hang down when the hat is worn. The hat is lined with a plaid of blue, ivory, and grey. The top of the crown is lined with a striped fabric of blues, red, and grey.
The pants (.b) have a fall front, which closes with twelve mother of pearl buttons. The fall is bordered with red, white, and blue embroidery similar to the yoke. The bottom corners of the fall are embroidered with red, white, and blue triangles like the breast pockets. The top center of the fall is decoratively slit, embroidered with a triangle, and laced with a black silk cord ending in tassels. The center front fastens with two buttons under the fall. The top edge of the pants is embroidered with red herringbone stitch. The top of the pants are lined with a two-tone blue and white woven checked cotton. The center back is laced with a cord, like the top of the fall in front. The fabric under this lacing is cut with a dovetail edge.
The hat (.c) is dark blue wool decorated with embroidery in light blue, orange, and ivory silk floss. The round top of the crown has an embroidered design, the center of which is a solid pattern of the three colors with ten-point stars. This central decoration is surrounded by four concentric circles of orange and light blue embroidery. The outside pattern is large scallops in all three colors. The front of the headband is also embroidered with a line of light blue floss around the gold lettering. The gold lettering is on a strip of black grosgrain ribbon. Two layers of the same ribbon are stitched to the proper left side; 9 1/2 inches long and sewn just in the center with three small mother of pearl buttons. These ribbons hang down when the hat is worn. The hat is lined with a plaid of blue, ivory, and grey. The top of the crown is lined with a striped fabric of blues, red, and grey.
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