Waistcoat
Dateca. 1780
OriginEngland
MediumPrinted cotton velvet, buttons with sequins and silver; silk, cotton-linen and linen linings. Wool and coarse linen (bast) padding.
DimensionsLength: 31"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1985-145,2
DescriptionMan's suit waistcoat of printed cotton velvet ("velveret") in red and black on beige ground in a small scale zig-zag and dash pattern forming vertical stripes. The waistcoat is sleeveless, with a 1/8" band at the neckline. It is buttoned at center front with 13 small buttons and functional buttonholes. Shaped flaps over two linen pockets are trimmed with 3 buttons each. The waistcoat's upper back is made of silk twill with tape ties; the lower back is the printed textile (velveret). Facing linings are of silk satin and remaining lining iscotton- linen twill, known as "fustian." The facing or lining forms a pleat covering part of the buttonholes, similar to the lining of the coat.Label TextThis waistcoat, or vest, is part of a gentleman’s three-piece suit made of cotton velvet suiting material, sometimes called “velveret.” The textile was block printed by the yard in a small-scale pattern typical of men’s suiting materials of the 1780s. In this case, the printing blocks were not registered accurately, leaving behind a prominent horizontal line of mis-matched stripes on the proper left front, just above the waist. The tailor probably reasoned that the suit coat worn over the waistcoat would hide the pattern defect.
