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Boy's Coat

Original OwnerOriginally owned by Joel Potter American, 1800 - 1873
Clothing MakerMade by Unknown
Date1803-1805
MediumHand-stitched cotton, with cotton-covered bone (probably) buttons
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width across shoulders): 16 x 8in. (40.6 x 20.3cm)
ClassificationsCostume
Credit LineMuseum purchase
DescriptionSmall boy's tail coat of cotton printed with a small checked design in brown on white; the white squares are filled with a madder red dot. The coat is double-breasted, with five buttons on either side of center front opening; the lower three buttons function, while the upper two on each side are decorative. The buttonholes are stitched in dark brown silk. The rise and fall collar is 1 1/4 inches wide at the center back; triangular lapels turn back below the collar in front. The two-pieced sleeve is set high on the shoulder; it terminates in a 2 1/4-inch-wide cuff that is vented at the back seam for 1 1/2 inches. The front waistline curves back to the tails. The shoulder seams are set towards the back. The coat body is cut with curved side back seams and a center back seam. The side back seams terminate at the pleats of the coat tails. This area is reinforced with plain, white cotton and decorated with two self-covered buttons. The coat is faced with self-fabric in the breast, and there is a facing strip in the proper left tail. The self-facing in the proper right tail forms a welted pocket. The buttons on the breast are reinforced by a 1/2-inch-wide button stand strip between the fashion fabric and the facing (this can be felt but not seen).
Object number1964.80.6
Subject Terms
    On View
    Not on view
    Gift of Phyllis Kihn, 1980.38.2a-c, Connecticut Historical Society, Public Domain
    Marie L. Brown
    1870
    Boy's or Man's Coat
    Captain Samuel Whitman
    about 1810
    Dress
    Unknown
    about 1875
    Gift of Adah Danielson, 1961.11.1a-d, Connecticut Historical Society, Public Domain
    Mary Christina Harris
    1883
    Wedding Dress
    Unknown
    5 June 1862
    Tail Coat
    Unknown
    about 1790-1800
    Gift of Charles S. MacDonough, 1847.12.0  © 2008 The Connecticut Historical Society.
    Commodore Thomas MacDonough
    1812-1814