Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Men's Waistcoat










From the seller:

ACQUIRED FROM A PRIVATE ESTATE, NO FAMILY NAME BUT LOCATED ON CAPE COD

DATING TO THE LATE 18TH TO EARLY 19TH C

FASHIONED OF AN OFF WHITE SILK FAILLE WITH EACH SIDE LAVISHLY HAND EMBROIDERED IN RICH FLORALS

HEAVY EMPHASIS ON THE ELABORATE POCKETS AND UP THE FRONT, COLORS TRUE AND NOT FADED IN THE LEAST

EDGES OF THE CLOSURE AND COLLAR FULLY EMBROIDERED

SILK COVERED WOOD BUTTONS CLOSE UP THE FRONT

TIES ARE ON THE REAR COTTON BACKING AS SEEN

EACH UNDERARM HAS SEEN A SMALL LINE OF BREAKAGE ON THE FRONT SIDE AS PICTURED

THE DAMAGE DOES NOT EXTEND INTO THE BODY AT ALL

THERE ARE TWO SMALL STAINS THAT ARE HIDDEN AS THEY ARE RIGHT ASIDE THE EMBROIDERY WITH SEVERAL SMALL PIN POINT STAINS IN THE SILK

THE SIDE COLLAR EDGES HAVE SIMILAR STAINED WEAR

THE REAR COLLAR AND TOP SHOULDERS HAVE A PIECED INSERTION OF COTTON AND THERE IS A COFFEE COLORED STAINING TO THIS FABRIC THAT HAS BLED INTO THE BASE COTTON

THE INTERIOR IS SIGNED F GREGORY

THE INSIDE BOTTOM WAIST COAT HAS SOME SMALL EDGE FRAY AND SPATTERED STAINING THAT IS UNSEEN FROM THE EXTERIOR

THE SIDES HAVE SEEN A SMALL PERIOD INSERT THAT ADDS TO THE WIDTH EVER SO SLIGHTLY

OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT, STRONG, SOUND CONDITION, COULD BE WORN IF DESIRED

IT MAY HAVE BEEN RE-BACKED AT ONE TIME, BUT THE BACKING IS EARLY AND ORIGINAL…HARD TO TELL FOR SURE







MEASUREMENTS IN INCHES:
CHEST: 38
WAIST: 36
LENGTH: 22




From Me:

I *think* this one was actually made - or at least redone- in the 1870's. Although this waistcoat at the MET is a few years after the time I think this extant one is from, you can see the similarities in cut. The odd collar/not collar thing with the high back, the open at the bottom to create two points in the front, and, with the extant one, there is clearly some "new" things added (like the second strap in the back). It was popular at the Centennial to dress up similar to those 100 years before, but with some modern twists. Think of us today with our "vintage" fashion craze - no sane woman in the 1940s'/1950's would have had pink, green, or blue streaks in her hair but that's pretty normal with many of the vintage inspired hairstyles today.

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