Boy's suit
Category
Costume
Date
circa 1871
Materials
Cotton, silk, velvet, satin, braid and metal
Measurements
Waistcoat - 330 mm (length), jacket - 360 mm (length), Breeches - 485 mm (length)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 658375
Summary
A boy's 'mourning suit' (circa 1871) - a waistcoat, a jacket and a pair of breeches. This suit belonged to a boy called Travers Buxton (born 10.12.1864) who wore them on the death of his mother in 1871. All are made from black velvet. The waistcoat (which fastens up to the neck) is lined with cream cotton and has black silk as the back. The entire edge is bound in plain black braid which is also used along the edges of two small pockets, one at either side of the lower front. The pockets are lined with black satin. Down the left front are six fabric-covered domed metal buttons, with corresponding buttonholes on the right front. The left side seam is coming apart at the armhole edge and the left pocket is coming away at one side. The round-necked jacket has long sleeves and is lined with cream cotton then black silk. The entire edge is bound in plain black braid which is also used near the ends of the sleeve cuffs. The only fastening is a hook-and-eye at the neck edge, although the hook is missing. The lining is coming away near the right front and at both cuffs, and the right sleeve seam is coming undone. The breeches are lined with cream cotton. Down each side are two lines of plain black braid, one either side of a row of five fabric-covered domed metal? buttons (which occurs about halfway down). Around the waist, which is shaped by four darts, are seven black-painted metal buttons. One is used as the front fastening, the others are probably for attaching braces. The breeches are further fastened by four smaller black-painted metal buttons inside the fly front. The leg edges are gathered at the hem (with elastic). There are a few small stains on the front. Total number of items is 3.
Provenance
This suit is part of a set of mourning clothes belonging to a boy called Travers Buxton (born 10.12.1864) who wore them on the death of his mother in 1871