Woman's Coat
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
May Lester
(American, 1881 - 1957)
Clothing MakerMade by
Unknown
Dateabout 1910-1915
MediumMachine-stitched and hand-stitched silk, silk plush, silk/cotton cording, silk tassels, and ferrous metal hooks and eyes
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (center back length x width across shoulders): 46 1/2 x 17in. (118.1 x 43.2cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Stanley Rockwell
DescriptionWoman's coat of grayish-lavender velvet and silk plush. The coat has a deeply dipped yoke-like collar of velvet trimmed with gray silk-wrapped cord laid along the edges and in two rows in a V-formation across the front. Two pairs of large medallions of lavender cording laid in looping patterns decorate the collar beneath large, cord-wrapped buttons which fasten together by means of cords from each side. A large silver-gray silk tassel hangs from each of the lower two corded medallions. The coat fastens with hooks and thread-covered eyes along the edge; the buttons and loops are mostly decoration. Another large medallion and tassel decorates the center back of the collar. The body of the coat is a silvery-lavender silk plush fabric. It is bordered with the lavender velvet along the opening edges, continuing in a curve along the bottom. The plush is pleated into the wide velvet border below the hips in front, which pulls the coat into a pouf on each side of the front; at this point, the coat opening curves away towards the back. The back of the coat is cut straight, with a center back seam and side seams. The long, full sleeves are slightly gathered into the shoulders, and into 5 3/4-inch-deep velvet cuffs. At the back of the arm, the cuff edges curve down and meet at the wrist opening under a large, cord-wrapped button. The coat is lined with cream-colored satin in most of the body; the front and bottom edges are lined with a satin of a slightly different color. The seams are topstitched with a featherstitch.
Object number1991.107.9
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