Name/Title
CoatEntry/Object ID
2014.38.1Description
Brown ribbed silk double-breasted coat, early 19th century. Front of the coat seems to fall about the natural waist, with tails that curve away toward the back of the body. Tall collar, fairly wide lapels. Buttonholes on each side of the front, although the coat has clearly been buttoned mostly on the same side. Self fabric covered buttons. Long two-part sleeves, with a curve at the elbow, and deep folded back cuffs. Two pockets with flaps. Decorative buttons on the top of the vents of the skirt on the back of the coat. The fabric on the back of the coat has been angled at the center seam so that the ribbed stripes meet at an angle.Dimensions
Dimension Notes
36 3/4" long from the back of the neck to the hem. Top of lapel to the waist is 17". Sleveves are 26-28" long.Material
ribbed tabby silkInterpretative Labels
Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
This coat is typical of those worn by fashionable gentleman at the beginning of the 19th century. The front is cut across at the waist and curves away on each side to form tails in the back. The formal tailcoats of the late 19th and early 20th centuries evolved from this basic coat silhouette. Double-breasted closures also became very common early in the century. Like many coats of the period, this garment has two sets of buttons and buttonholes and can be closed in either direction. However, only one set of buttons show significant wear, confirming that it has always been worn fastened as it is shown here.
