Coat Fragment
DateCa. 1780
MediumSilk; silk needlework; linen innerlinings; silk lining;wooden button forms; paper behind needlework in areas
DimensionsL: 46" OW: 15 1/2"
Credit LineGift of Ms. Donna Kaeppel-Collins
Object number1989-327,A
DescriptionPortion of a formal coat for a man of ribbed purple silk (now faded to brown) embroidered with pink, cream and green silk flowers, leaves, and rows of bead-like dots down fronts, on pocket flaps, around pockets, and in pleats. Right front with 10 embroidered buttons and two metal hooks. Technical notes: Coat has been shortened by cutting just above the pocket flaps and appliqueing around the needlework; it is not known how early this was done, but the innerfacings look early. Innerfacings consist of three different qualities of tabby linen. Buttons are embroidered with single floral sprig, gathered around wooden form with center hole; buttons sewn onto coat with a heavy thread that connects from button to button over the innerfacing. Pockets originally were white tabby; pocket flaps lined with cream ribbed tabby silk the same as fragments of lining surviving down fronts and edging lower hems).ProvenanceAccording to donor, the coat pieces were found in an antique shop in New Mexico. It was originally purchased at auction as part of the contents of a bedroom dresser, in a box labelled "wedding clothes of GR Grandmother and father." The dress was subsequently sold to a seamstress; the coat was purchased by the donor from the antique dealer who purchased the bedroom furniture. The original owner had died at the age of 104, having lived for a long time in Taos, NM; her possessions were all sold at the above mentioned auction.
