Men's 18th Century Frock Coat with Embroidery

From the seller:

RARE Gents French Green Silk Embroidered Court Coat ca 1750 - 1775


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This gorgeous gents coat is made from a sage green silk and is heavily embroidered in ploychrome silk floss. It has a stand up collar, oversized pockets under a deep scalloped flaps, back pleats, elaborate embroidery, and a wool and linen lining. A few very minor spots or stains, minor holes in the wool lining De-accessioned from the Met. Museum of Art. It measures 36 inches around the chest, across the back shoulder is 16, sleeve is 23 and it's 45 inches long. Excellent condition and a real beauty to add to a collection.

From Me:

First, my apologies for not posting over the past almost three weeks. My computer went into meltdown (I was curious what that plastic-y burning smell was...) and I had to get a new one. I wasn't able to get the new one to work at first because of an adaptar issue with the monitor. Then I had to Frankenstein the new computer a bit, add my old hard drive, and now - finally- I have a decent, reliable computer...that may have processing power up to 4.0ghz and 4tb of hard drive space.....

The frock coat: The embroidered frock coat was a popular theme in the late 18th century and, really, for court wear, well up into the 19th Century. Based on the cut of this one, I think it's more 1780's than 1770's.

1770's Men's Outfit Pinstripes!

From the seller:

Rarely Found Offered On The Open Market

Acquired From A Private Collection Deaccession

Original Unaltered Condition

Three Piece Construction, Sewn All By Hand

Fashioned of a Brown Striped Silk

The Breeches With Fall Front, Lined In Flannel Inside

Waistcoat Buttons Closed With Covered Thread Buttons, Flares In Points At The Outer Hips, Would Lace Closed Up The Rear, The Cord Not Original

The Court Coat Falls Long, Covered Buttons Trim Front As Well As The Turned Up Cuffs

The Breeches Have Missing Buttons, The Metal Buttons Seen Are A Replacement. The Inner Jacket Was Relined In The Early 19th C, Linen Label In The Lining. There Is A Large Water Stain On The Inner Lining Only, Not Seen From The Outside. Minor Edge Fray At Breeches Waist With Several Small Brown Stains. Shirt Not Included.

It Is So Rare To Find These Early Suits Complete And In Such Pristine Condition As This. Could Be Worn If So Desired, Not Recommended.

Measurements In Inches

Court Coat:
Chest: 36
Waist: 34
Center Rear Length: 44
Shoulders: 15
Sleeve Length: 24

Waist Coat:
Chest: 40
Length In Front: 31

Breeches:
Waist: 34
Inseam: 14
Outseam: 27




From Me:

I was originally hesitant to post this one until I read the description - I knew the metal buttons weren't right at all. There were other alterations that made me think this was more likely a really amazing Victorian Fancy Dress type outfit but the seller's explanation makes perfect sense. So, yes, it really is 1770's.

A similar one up for sale at Christies
A decade earlier but stripes!
A little over a decade later but still stripes!

Rococo or Victorian Men's Waistcoat - you decide!

From the seller:

Vintage Antique 1700s VEST Waistcoat 36 EMBROIDERED METALLIC Silk Satin

ornate embroidery at front with some metallic stitching
fabric has metallic horizontal threads
buttons are embroidered with sequins
2 pockets, fully cotton lined
flannel back with 3 vents

Chest 36" (38 of fabric); Back length 26"



From Me:

Although the front looks 1760's~1770's, the back does not. The back looks very much like what you'd expect with a Victorian fancy dress outfit. So is this fancy dress or is it authentic? I'm not sure. Any thoughts either way?

Men's 18th century Waistcoat

From the seller:

Vintage Antique 1700s VEST Waistcoat 36 EMBROIDERED METALLIC Silk Satin

ornate embroidery at front with some metallic stitching
fabric has metallic horizontal threads
buttons are embroidered with sequins
2 pockets, fully cotton lined
flannel back with 3 vents

Chest 36" (38 of fabric); Back length 26"

From Me:

Most likely 1770's based on the cut. I love the embroidery!

Gorgeous! Blue Damask 18th Century Shoe!

From the seller:

Antique 18th Century 1740 Single Blue Damask Velvet Shoe Heel
VERY RARE 18TH CENTURY SHOE FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTION

THE MATCH, LOST IN TIME THIS IS NOW ALL THATS LEFT, A LONESOME BUT STUNNING RELIC OF TIMES PAST




THE SHOES ARE IN GERERALLY GOOD CONDITION FOR COLLECTION / STUDY
THEY HAVE THE OCCASIONAL RUN/SNAG/ RIP TO THE FABRIC INCLUDING ON THE TOE, HEEL

THE STRAPS SHOULD BE HELD IN PLACE WITH A BUCKLE
LINNED IN LINEN
LEATHER SOLES



QUITE STUNNING AND WOULD MAKE A GREAT DISPLAY FOR ANY SHOE COLLECTOR


From Me:

This is so awesome! A part of me is eye twitching over the use of a fabric pin through the shoe but look at it! Straight lasts were used in the 18th century for economic reasons - it's easier to make two shoes from one last rather than from one right and one left last. Look at the stitching!

The seller thinks these are 1740's (based on the title of the auction) but I think these are much later - more 1760's/1770's. The reason is that the 1740's shoes tend to be pointed at the front (or have some sort of "upturn" at the toe)- these are rounded and flat. The general shape of the toes follows other 1760's/1770's shoes that I've listed below:

• 1760's at Lacma
• 1760's/1770's at the Met
• 1770's on Meg Andrews' site
• 1760's/1770's at the Met in ice blue silk

18th Century Dress turned into a Jacket in the 19th Century

From the seller:

Circa 18THC. a lovely Spitafields polychrome silk embroidered bodice with scattered small floral bouquets in the Damask silk..The bodice is in very good strong condition, with some age spots,some light discoloration under arms and some of the edging that only needs to be sewn back into place.


From Me:

The waist ties and the very badly sewn back innerlining around the waist are both Victorian. Why the Victorians felt the need to rip off the skirt and make this dress into a jacket, I have no idea. However, they did that quite often - I have a bodice that suffered the same fate as this one.

The way the innerling is flipped up and haphazardly sewn to the insides (ie, it's not neat at all), shows that it was cut at a later time - which makes a lot of sense if this was originally a dress. Chop off the skirt and sew everything under to make a jacket. This was originally most likely from the 1780's. You can see similar styled dresses with similar silks at Europeana Fashion and at the Chertsey Museum.