Man's Waistcoat

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Subject

Clothing and Dress

Title

Man's Waistcoat

Date

ca. 1855

Format

Length: 23.5 inches (front); 19 inches (back) (59.6 and 48.2 cm)
Waist: 17.5 inches. (44.4 cm)

Description

The vest is made of white cotton dobby weave fabric, backed and lined with a plain weave cotton. Embroidered flowers embellish the shawl collar and front edges of the vest. A small pocket with a curved opening decorates the upper left front. The single-breasted waistcoat closes with five small pearl buttons that are attached with a tape through the shanks.

The waistcoat is shaped with small gussets sewn into each side at the waist.

Comparison white vests on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website are designated as evening vests which is probably the case for this one.

Information accompanying this donation states that it "belonged to the husband of a friend of Mrs. Saunders, Mr. Anders Malmstead." Mr. Malmstead was born in Sweden in 1836, married there, but emigrated sometime to Providence, RI.

References

“Evening Vest." 1850-55. Metroploitan Museum of ARt. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/159436 “Vest." 1855. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accessed December 6, 2022. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/91051

Source

Donor: Vera G. Sweet Saunders (Mrs. Winthrop H. Saunders), Providence, RI.

Identifier

URI 1956.27.25

Contributor

Olivia Kaiser

Citation

“Man's Waistcoat,” Historic Textile and Costume Collection, accessed April 26, 2024, https://uritextilecollection.omeka.net/items/show/546.