Waistcoat
Category
Costume
Date
1760
Materials
Tabby silk, silk twill, silk thread embroidery, calico, boning strips, elastic.
Measurements
500 x 450 mm
Collection
Springhill, County Londonderry
NT 603190
Summary
A woman's waistcoat, which has been repurposed from a man's 18th century waistcoat during the late Victorian period. The original waistcoat front is made from cream tabby silk with the original cream silk twill lining and five of six surviving silk embroidered buttons intact. The collar, pocket flaps and front facings are edged with brown silk cording. It is extensively embroidered in multicoloured silk thread in a floral pattern typical of the mid to late 18th century. The late 19th century alterations are particularly evident in the collar, pocket flaps and in the addition of two boning strips at waist level on both right and left sides, which both reduced the width of the original garment and provided support for the female wearer. Late Victorian new additions include a back made from white calico and two elastic fastening straps at waist level (elastic perished).
Provenance
Gift of Parkinson-Cumine