Man's Suit
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Albert Day Putnam
American, 1904 - 1990
Clothing MakerMade by
Arthur M. Rosenberg
American
DateApril 1924
MediumCoat (.a): Machine-stitched and hand-stitched wool, with silk lining and trim, plastic buttons, and one small metal snap.
Pants (.b): Machine-stitched and hand-stitched wool, with cotton facings and pockets, plastic buttons, and a metal trouser hook.
Vest (.c): Machine-stitched and hand-stitched silks with cotton lining, mother of pearl buttons, and a metal buckle.
DimensionsComponent (coat length x width): 30 3/4 x 18in. (78.1 x 45.7cm)
Component (pants length x width at waist): 44 1/8 x 15 3/4in. (112.1 x 40cm)
Component (vest length x width at chest): 25 1/2 x 17 3/4in. (64.8 x 45.1cm)
Component (pants length x width at waist): 44 1/8 x 15 3/4in. (112.1 x 40cm)
Component (vest length x width at chest): 25 1/2 x 17 3/4in. (64.8 x 45.1cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineGift of the estate of Marcella Putnam
DescriptionMan's formal suit coat (.a) of black wool, with the lower lapels made from black silk satin. The single-breasted front closure has one black plastic button for the closure. The long lapels are gently curved at the notch, with the lower section made from black silk satin fabric. The coat is shaped in the front with a set of darts running from the chest to the hip pockets. A second set of darts runs from under the arms to the hip pockets. The back is constructed with a center back seam and a set of side back seams. There are no vents in any of the three back seams. There are slash pockets at each hip, each with a flap, and an upturned flap pocket at the proper left breast. A fourth pocket is found stitched with a vertical opening along the seam connecting the lining to the front facing on the proper right side. This pocket has a small snap for closure. The sleeves are constructed of two shaped pieces, a top and a bottom. The back seam has a vent 2 7/8 inches long with a two-button, false closure. These buttonholes are only decorative. The coat's body is lined with a black silk fabric. The sleeves are lined with a white silk that has deteriorated significantly more than the black.
Man's formal suit pants (.b) made from black wool with decorative black ribbon on the outseam of each leg. The front fly has four black plastic buttons on the proper right, with corresponding hand-stitched buttonholes on the proper right, with a flat trouser hook at the top. An additional button inside the proper left waist buttons in towards the body to secure the underflap of the fly. There is no separate waistband piece sewn to the top of the pants. The center back seam has a one-inch vent sewn into the top. There are seven narrow (3/8 inch x 2 1/8 inches) self-fabric belt loops sewn to the top. Suspender buttons, larger than those at the fly, are sewn to the inside of the waist. There are a total of five pockets: a watch pocket (double welt pocket) at the waist on the proper right; a double welt pocket on each side in the back; and a pocket set into each side seam. These pockets are made with a black twill-woven cotton. A dart is stitched through each of the back pockets. The back of the leg hem is slightly longer than the front. The outer side seams are decorated with a black ribbon, 1/2 inch wide. The seams are finished with a very wide, hand-stitched overcast stitch.
Man's suit vest (.c) of black silk woven in a fine, damask stripe. The front closure has four mother of pearl buttons on the proper right, with corresponding hand-stitched buttonholes on the left. These buttons are attached with metal rings, inserted once the shank of the button has been pushed through a hole in the fashion fabric. The low shawl collar curves upwards, ending at the shoulder seam. There is no turn-down collar. The edges of the front pieces curve gently away from the center, ending in points at the hem line. The side seams each have a vent, 1 1/4 inch long, stitched at the hem. There are three upturned flap pockets: one at the proper left breast and one at waist height on each side front. Fitting is achieved with a small dart (1 1/8 inch) stitched from each armscye towards the chest, a long dart through the lower pockets on each side front, and with a belt of black silk satin at the back. The belt buckle, sewn onto the proper left side, is made of a black metal. The vest is lined with a black glazed, twill-woven cotton. The back is made of a black silk.
Man's formal suit pants (.b) made from black wool with decorative black ribbon on the outseam of each leg. The front fly has four black plastic buttons on the proper right, with corresponding hand-stitched buttonholes on the proper right, with a flat trouser hook at the top. An additional button inside the proper left waist buttons in towards the body to secure the underflap of the fly. There is no separate waistband piece sewn to the top of the pants. The center back seam has a one-inch vent sewn into the top. There are seven narrow (3/8 inch x 2 1/8 inches) self-fabric belt loops sewn to the top. Suspender buttons, larger than those at the fly, are sewn to the inside of the waist. There are a total of five pockets: a watch pocket (double welt pocket) at the waist on the proper right; a double welt pocket on each side in the back; and a pocket set into each side seam. These pockets are made with a black twill-woven cotton. A dart is stitched through each of the back pockets. The back of the leg hem is slightly longer than the front. The outer side seams are decorated with a black ribbon, 1/2 inch wide. The seams are finished with a very wide, hand-stitched overcast stitch.
Man's suit vest (.c) of black silk woven in a fine, damask stripe. The front closure has four mother of pearl buttons on the proper right, with corresponding hand-stitched buttonholes on the left. These buttons are attached with metal rings, inserted once the shank of the button has been pushed through a hole in the fashion fabric. The low shawl collar curves upwards, ending at the shoulder seam. There is no turn-down collar. The edges of the front pieces curve gently away from the center, ending in points at the hem line. The side seams each have a vent, 1 1/4 inch long, stitched at the hem. There are three upturned flap pockets: one at the proper left breast and one at waist height on each side front. Fitting is achieved with a small dart (1 1/8 inch) stitched from each armscye towards the chest, a long dart through the lower pockets on each side front, and with a belt of black silk satin at the back. The belt buckle, sewn onto the proper left side, is made of a black metal. The vest is lined with a black glazed, twill-woven cotton. The back is made of a black silk.
Object number1991.143.7a-c
MarkingsCoat (.a): Woven label at the back of the neck, black fabric with purple letters, "THE / Arthur M. Rosenberg [script] Co. / NEW YORK / NEW HAVEN". Fabric label with printed information in the interior breast pocket, proper right side, white fabric with black print, "THE / Arthur M. Rosenberg [script] Co. / TAILORS / New Haven, Conn. " Written beneath with black ink is some information on the individual customer, "4/24 [as in a date] 64553 / A.D. Putnam".Pants (.b): The flat metal trouser hook at the top of the fly is stamped on the eye, in quotation marks, "CATCH-ON". Stitched to the watch pocket, under the seam pocket, is the tailor's label, white fabric with black printing, "THE / Arthur M. Rosenberg [script] Co. / TAILORS / New Haven, Conn. " Below this information is printed "L / W / B". Written in this area is, "32 3 [next to the "L"] / 31 [next to the "W"] / 18 [ next to the "B']" To the right is "4/24 64553 / A.D. Putnam".
Vest (.c): Label stitched to the front bottom on the proper right side, white fabric with black print, "THE / Arthur M. Rosenberg [script] Co. / TAILORS / New Haven, Conn. " Written beneath in black ink is, "4/24 [as in a date] 64553 / A.D. Putnam".
Stamped on the metal buckle, "PAT.878.764".
Each of the three pieces of this suit - coat, pants and vest - have the same information on the customer with the date of manufacture indicated as "4/24."
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