Images(5)

Great Coat

Date1795

OriginEurope, Poland, Warsaw

MediumWool, silk

DimensionsOverall back length: 52 inches Overall center front: 51 inches Chest: 44 inches Waist: 42 inches

Credit LineGift of The Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA

Object number2023-19

DescriptionA green double breasted broadcloth coat lined in a buff worsted wool. The coat shows no signs of fasteners ever being on the garments. The back and sleeves are cut into one piece. Arm slits along the sides allow access to the interior of the garment. Eash of the side seams are taped with a silk tape running the entire length of the side seam and continue the entire length of the under-arm seam of the sleeve. The bottom of the side seam is also trimmed horizontally with the same silk tape with the addition of green bullion fringe. The neckline has a very large and wide collar that is lined in the same buff worsted as the rest of the coat.

Construction History:
1. Initial Construction sometime around 1790
2. Pocket bag crudely inserted in the right vent, ca 1850

Label TextLewis Littlepage was given this great coat or cloak by King Stanislaw II at their final parting at Grodno, Russia (modern day Belarus) in 1795.

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 Seige of Gilbraltar. 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 pariition 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.

Upon his death in 1802 several inventories were taken that specifically noted this garment. It seemed to be confused between a great coat and a cloak, probably due to the fact it shows now method of closure.

"1 green coat given him by the King of Poland, when the King was conveyed to Grodno, and Lewis Littlepage separated from him by the express order of the Empress Catharine the 2nd."

"List of clothes belonging to Lewis Littlepage taken from the information of Jacob David Wacker...1 green cloak given him by the King of Poland."

"List of cloathes formally the property of my brother Lewis Littlepage decd, taken 31st, January 1804....1 green cloak."