Suit

This suit is made of a cream silk velvet with small stems and flowers woven into the fabric. The colours and pattern are typical of the mid 1770s but the cut of the suit with its long waistcoat and the ample skirt of its coat harks back to the 1760s. Many of the buttons on the coat are just for show and would never have been used.

The back of the waistcoat is made of grey flannel, as it would rarely have been seen. The coat and waistcoat are lined in blue satin and the breeches are lied in fustian twill. Fustian was a popular fabric in the 18th century. It was made of cotton alone or a mixture of cotton and flax or hemp.

The suit was acquired from John Seymour Lucas (1849-1923), a historical and portrait painter and costume designer. Lucas painted scenes from the 16th to the 18th century and must have used his large collection of historic clothing for his paintings.

The suit is displayed with a metal wig by Yasemen Hussein and a replica hat made my Jane Smith.