Alberton Museum
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AM.2007.026.100.01-03
AM.2007.026.100.01
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AM.2007.026.100.02
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AM.2007.026.100.03
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(click image to enlarge)
Object Name
Suit
Catagory
Personal Artifact
Sub-Category
Clothing Outerwear
Date
Circa 1860
Materials
Velvet, cotton, metal, paint
Object History
This suit could possibly be styled after two different suit styles that were once quit popular. The first possibility would be the Eton suit, fashioned after the school uniform of Kings College of Our Lady of Eton - commonly known as Eton College; a spin off of the Eton suits became fashionable for small American and Canadian boys. The suit had short jackets with no lapels and was generally worn with short pants. The suit was usually worn without a tie with collar folded over the jacket. Eton suits were worn about age 7-8 at which point boys would be given more adult looking suits. Another possiblity is the Zouave Suit- also very popular for young boys. The rise in this styles popularity was from 1850-1870 concentrating around the 1860s. Zouave suits were typical "dressed up" clothes for boys in the mid 19th Century.
From the donation list, it is possible that this suit belonged to George Gard, it would have been worn when he was perhaps 3-4 years of age according to the size.
Description
Jacket; long sleeve, waist length boys jacket, part of three piece suit; at collar (no lapels) attached a hook & eye closure; adorned along all edges (including cuffs) with a stitched on metal gold colored ribbon; jacket front adorned with four groupings of metal brass colored painted false buttons; 2 slits at base hem at back are adorned with same false buttons; jacket is lined throughout with a white cotton material; appears hand made, no visible maker marks. Width 28cm Length 34.5cm
Knickers, black; short legged pants; two side openings 13cm long, flat front & back, lining is a cotton flannel material (stripped red, blue, white); button holes at waist band -back center- front- center - sides at opening; outside lower cuffs adorned with three gold colored metallic buttons; front a stitched opening at crotch 4 cm long; appears homemade. Width 32 cm Length 35cm.
Briefs; white cotton underwear worn with velvet boys suit; button front in downward ‘V’ shaped of five buttons & holes on waist of pants; material is cut on the bias, appear handmade. Width 27cm Length 30 cm