SOLD

Boy's Coat
c 1837

Tunics were general wear for boys of between four and ten in the 1840's and 50's. Wool and velvet, linen and cotton were used. They would have been worn over trousers. For similar see: History of Children's Costume by Elizabeth Ewing, p. 72, a photo of a young boy by Hill Adamson 1843-4.also: Children's Clothes by Clare Rose, p. 94 The cloth is finely woven but quite thick, Melton perhaps? The underside of the collar is beautifully stitched with lines and little stitches, which do not show on the top surface.

Cataloguing

Of fine wool in chocolate/aubergine colouring, the high neck with rounded collar, black covered buttons from shoulder to waist and similar buttons for nine front fastenings, 1 in. wide tucks to the skirt front and graduating to 1 ? in. at back, the sleeves with tucking to the shoulder billowing out and then in at the lower arm, the sleeve with a seam, the bodice lined with buff cotton twill, the skirt sides with brown silk, back neck, under collar to hem 26 in. c. 1837.

Condition

Overall, it looks very good. No fading. The tunics right sleeve has three small moth holes and a couple of small moth tracks! The left sleeve has some quite bad moth damage the worst 1 ? in. x 1/8 in. Again some moth tracks, as I call them. The left hand collar front has similar tracks (slight wear). The skirt has around 25 moth holes or tracks varying in size from pinpricks to a couple of holes ? in. dia. This is a marvellous and very rare find.