Waistcoat
Dateca. 1750
MediumCotton twilled textile, crewel wool embroidery, fustian, fine cream linen, course linen, 13 buttons (likely wooden, thread covered to match), linen thread.
DimensionsCenter Front: 18" (neck to waist), 26 3/4" (neck to hem)
Center Back: 19 1/2" (neck to vent), 26" (neck to hem)
Chest: approximately 40"
Waist: approximately 32"
Credit LineGift of Mrs. Cora Ginsburg
Object number1989-431
DescriptionMan's waistcoat of white cotton embroidered in floral-pattern, red and green crewel wool down fronts and around pocket flaps. Waistcoat has a rounded collarless neckline. The front opening fastens with 13 thread-covered buttons. The buttonholes are inset on a strip of linen beneath the left edge of the waistcoat to conceal the buttons when the front edges are fastened. The garment has curved, peaked pocket flaps, with no pocket bags beneath them.Construction Details: The center back is constructed of linen. The center back seam is stacked and felled to finish. A coarser linen is used to line the center front panels and a running stitch is used to secure it to the cotton. Side panels of a twilled and napped fustian, used to widen the garment, at the time of orignial construction. The side panels are pieced and whip stitched to the center front panels and backing. Both armseye are finished with an overcast stitch. The thirteen buttonholes are on a separate piece of linen under the embroidered center front, but the thirteenth buttonhole is constructed on a thick twilled cotton. The thirteen buttons likely include wooden molds and are thread covered to match.
Construction History:
1. ca. 1750: Initial Construction
