waistcoat

Summary

Cream ribbed silk,with twilled silk back and facings; cotton lining; buttoning to neck with twelve buttons;original ties across back missing, existing ties later additions; two pockets with flaps; neck, front, pocket flaps bordered with embroidery or floral trail in pink, green and brown silks and metal thread in chain stitch, and wavy chain stitch band with spangles; buttons embroidered with silver thread chain stitch and button holes similarly outlined. The design of the embroidery would probably put the date to the 1770s, so it is a rather old fashioned cut, perhaps for an older wearer. Captain Cook's surviving waistcoats, embroidered by his wife around 1778-80 (when he was killed) show very similar designs.