Machine knitted silk tricot breeches are rare. The V & A have one pair but I could'nt find any elsewhere in museums. They must have been very nice to wear!
Dark brown silk tricot, machine knitted, the waistband with three buttons, (one self covered, the other two wood) and a watch pocket above the fall front , secured with three covered buttons, two front pockets, the reverse with two wood buttons to the waistband, centre ties with original silk ribbons, a inserted V below, very roomy bottom area, the legs with four covered buttons and buttonholes and silk tie ribbons.
Overall the dye in the breeches has discoloured so they are patchy throughout. In remarkable condition for their age. The back right hand leg has a small hole near the cuff. The wooden buttons are a replacement. although the buttons look very old and they are secured with thick twine. There is a hole 1 cm diameter to the bottom area.
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O75637/breeches-unknown/
Baumgarten, Linda. What Clothes Reveal, fig. 369 in Colonial Willimsburg collection.
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