2023-21,1-3, Suit; coat; waistcoat; breeches. Shown with 2023-22 Order of Saint Stanislaus Ribb ...

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2023-21,1-3, Suit; coat; waistcoat; breeches

Suit; coat; waistcoat; breeches

Date1787-1795

OriginEurope, Poland, Warsaw

MediumCoat: Silk, Linen, Silver, Gold, Garnets, Wood, paper Waistcoat: Silk, copper, linen, wool, and paper Breeches: Silk, Linen, Iron, Wood, and paper

DimensionsCoat: Overall Center Front Length: 42 ¾ inches Center back to vent: 21 inches Waist: 32 inches Chest: 38 inches Waistcoat: Center back to vent: 19 ¼ Center back overall: 25 ¼ Chest: 37.5 Waist: 35.5 Breeches: Outseam: 20 inches Inseam: 16 inches Waist: 27 inches

Credit LineGift of The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA

Object number2023-21,1-3

DescriptionThree-piece court suit worn by Lewis Littlepage

Coat: Fully embroidered court coat with the Order of Saint Stanislaus stitched to the chest. The coat is made from a compound woven silk with several stripes of brown, blue, and white with a tiny blue check or dot overtop. The coat was embroidered with a silver bullion edge with grey and white floral sprays down the center front, around and on the pocket flaps, cuffs, collar, the edge of the front pleat, and down the center back vent of the coat. The coat was fully lined with white silk, but above the waist it has been removed. The coat is fully interlined with an entire layer of linen and when assembled it was treated as one layer. The Order of Saint Stanislaus was affixed to the coat sometime post 1790. The order was made on pasteboard or layers of paper which shows inked drawings to indicate the pattern the embroiderer was to follow. The central motifs made from a silvered disc with the royal monogram set in garnets of “SAR” (Stanislaus Augustus Rex). Around the monogram embroidered is the motto “Praemiando Incitat” (encouraged by reward). Around the Latin phrase is a laurel wreath from which radiates out an eight pointed star worked in spangles and bullion.

Waistcoat: A singled breasted court waistcoat made to match the breeches and coat. The waistcoat is embroidered with blue, white and grey floral sprays. The boarders down the center front worked with copper bullion that is coated to make them blue. The interior of the center back is lined in white silk satin, while the exterior of the center back is made from a very course linen. This waistcoat is made adjustable by two very large buckles attached at the back. These buckles are usually associated the backs of breeches to make them adjust and possibly something unique to Polish clothing. The waistcoat is also completely interlined with a soft unwoven white wool.

Construction History:
1787: Original Construction
1787-1795: Enlarged

Breeches:The breeches are part of a three-piece matching court suit made from a complex woven brown, blue, and white silk with blue checks over top the lined throughout with plain off white linen. The breeches are made with a flap front that extends from side seam to side seam with 5 buttons at the top and 2 on each side. The waistband of the pocket contains two watch pockets with a button and buttonhole to close it. The back of the waistband retains its original iron buckle for adjustability. Beneath the flap there are two internal white linen pockets. Each knee closes with five buttons and buttonholes and a garter made to fit a set of knee buckles. Each of the garters are embroidered to match the rest of the suit.

Construction History:
1787: Original Construction

Label TextIt is believed that Lewis Littlepage wore this suit while at the Court of Catharine II of Russia. The suit saw continual usage as Littlepage did not become a member of the Order of Saint Stanislaus until 1790, when the badge was probably added to the breast of the coat.

Lewis Littlepage (1762-1802) was born in New Kent County, Virginia. Littlepage attended the College of William and Mary and later served with John Jay at the Court of Spain during the American Revolution. Due to problems with debt, he served with the Spanish Army during the attack on Minorca and the Siege of Gibraltar. By 1786 he was admitted to the Court of Poland where he served as a Chamberlain to King Stanislaw II until 1795. With war raging across Europe and 2nd partition of Poland, Lewis was forced to leave the Court and finally returned home to Virginia in 1801.
ProvenanceThis garment was worn by Lewis Littlepage (1762-1802) who was born in New Kent County, Virginia. Littlepage died in 1802, leaving his small estate to his stepbrother Waller Holladay. The surviving objects passed directly through the Holladay Family until gifted to the Valentine Museum in 1952 by Mr. and Mrs. A. Randolph Holladay II. In 2022, the objects were transferred to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.