Waistcoat — 1730-1739

A man’s yellow satin waistcoat, embroidered with coloured silk, silver file thread, strip and spangles and lined with fustian and ivory silk. The sleeves are three-quarter length and taper to above the wrist. There is no collar but the neck has decorative edging of metallic thread around the front, which continues down the edge of the waistcoat front and along the hem. The scalloped pocket flaps have the same decorative edging. The back of the garment is slit at each side from the waist to the hem. The resulting flaring skirts have been wired at a later date to make them further stand out. The waistcoat is embellished with embroidery in coloured silk and silver threads of several textures. The decorative pattern incorporates large stylised flowers and leaves with feathered scrolls, arranged in broad borders down each front, over the pocket flaps and the front of the waistcoat skirts. Decorative passementerie buttons run the length of the right-side waistcoat opening, trim the edge of the pocket openings and a single button fastens each cuff. Each button is worked with silver foil, purl, filé and a silver spangle. The upper twelve buttons on the front fasten the waistcoat while the lower nine buttons serve only for decorative purposes.