Costume, Children's Clothing - Boy's Velveteen Suit
1870s (Date manufactured/created)
Velveteen, Silk satin , Linen , Cotton twill
A young boy's suit, probably worn by a child about 7 years old. The suit is comprised of a velvet jacket, white starched linen shirt, and velvet breeches. The jacket is lined in yellow-gold silk satin, and the trousers are lined in brown cotton twill. The decorative buttons occurring throughout the ensemble are small brass shank buttons, with an image of a flower on a stem done in relief.
The jacket is collarless, and has a close neckline. Instead of a typically expected closure, it fastens at the neck with a V-shaped tab with two buttonholes at each end, connecting to buttons on either side of the jacket front. All edges of the jacket are bound with black silk tape. The jacket has three pockets. A welted pocket bound by tape is positioned at the right breast. The two hip pockets, also welted, are concealed by a large decorative flap with a linear decoration in tape. They are rectangular with the front bottom corner rounded dramatically. The flaps are lined in satin. The sleeves of the jacket are straight. The back of the jacket has two rounded tabs extending from the side back panel towards the center back. 5 decorative buttons are placed on the tab.
The shirt has a shawl collar, faced with linen canvas, decorated with a frill of intricate scalloped Venetian lace. A similarly detailed strip of wide Venetian lace conceals the 4 button closure at center front. The shirt has four wide vertical knife pleats at the chest. The back of the shirt has four wide vertical box pleats. The shirt extends past the waistline, but a topstitched waistband defines and reinforces the waist. Upon the waistband are bone buttons that attach to the breeches.
The breeches close at the hips with a single tortoiseshell button. This closure is further reinforced by a large interior tab at the front attaching to a button at the lining on the side. A strip of canvas twill is stitched to the waist, where buttonholes are sewn to receive the buttons on the shirt. Five decorative buttons embellish the outside of the knee.
Condition: Good. Velveteen shedding slightly. A - OL 14 5/8" : B - OL 16 1/2: C - OL 17".
The jacket is collarless, and has a close neckline. Instead of a typically expected closure, it fastens at the neck with a V-shaped tab with two buttonholes at each end, connecting to buttons on either side of the jacket front. All edges of the jacket are bound with black silk tape. The jacket has three pockets. A welted pocket bound by tape is positioned at the right breast. The two hip pockets, also welted, are concealed by a large decorative flap with a linear decoration in tape. They are rectangular with the front bottom corner rounded dramatically. The flaps are lined in satin. The sleeves of the jacket are straight. The back of the jacket has two rounded tabs extending from the side back panel towards the center back. 5 decorative buttons are placed on the tab.
The shirt has a shawl collar, faced with linen canvas, decorated with a frill of intricate scalloped Venetian lace. A similarly detailed strip of wide Venetian lace conceals the 4 button closure at center front. The shirt has four wide vertical knife pleats at the chest. The back of the shirt has four wide vertical box pleats. The shirt extends past the waistline, but a topstitched waistband defines and reinforces the waist. Upon the waistband are bone buttons that attach to the breeches.
The breeches close at the hips with a single tortoiseshell button. This closure is further reinforced by a large interior tab at the front attaching to a button at the lining on the side. A strip of canvas twill is stitched to the waist, where buttonholes are sewn to receive the buttons on the shirt. Five decorative buttons embellish the outside of the knee.
Condition: Good. Velveteen shedding slightly. A - OL 14 5/8" : B - OL 16 1/2: C - OL 17".
81.140 a b c