Unknown Maker, American

This group of fine broadcloth jackets dating from the early days of Brummell's influence to the early Victorian era have retained their modeling and drape for close to 200 years with little sign of wear. The luxury of broadcloth comes from the sheer amount of high-quality wool fiber necessary to produce the finished yardage. Broadcloth comprises a "full breadth," approximately 60 inches wide, hence its name. After weaving, the yardage is washed and subjected to a felting process that produces a very dense fabric as it shrinks. After felting, a finisher raises the nap, or the surface of the textile, to a lamb's-ear softness. Light plays against this sublime surface, resulting in a beautiful depth of color.