1850s Waistcoat
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1850-1860 A waistcoat in blue and black voided silk velvet.
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The back of the waistcoat
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The left backstrap with the buckle on the end
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Detail of the front showing two of the buttons
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Detail of the fabric
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Detail of the lining fabric
Description
The blue silk satin of the foreparts has a pattern of motifs in black silk velvet.
The waistcoat is single breasted with six domed buttons and worked buttonholes down the front; the buttons are covered in black silk satin with a black silk velvet flower in the middle.
The roll collar is an extension of the front facings and has dark brown silesia on the underside. There are welted pockets on each forepart; the welts are 5¼" long and ¾" deep, and the forepart hems are in the silk.
The back is dark brown silesia; about 3" up from the lower edge there are straps for adjusting the waist size with a black japanned metal buckle on on the end of one, in the style called a handle with crossbar.
The lining is natural colour glazed cotton with a printed pattern of dark mauve wavy vertical lines.
The waistcoat has inserted panels, 2" wide, in each side seam to let it out; they are dark brown cotton on the outside and dull ginger on the inside.
Contemporary illustration
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Portrait of John Naylor by Sir Francis Grant, 1857. Walker Art Gallery
Contemporary items
More waistcoats from the Hopkins Collection can be seen in Waistcoats, published by The School of Historical Dress and available from the Hopkins Costume Trust bookshop.