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American

Coat worn by N. W. Chapin, ca. 1840

Description

Maker

  • Unknown

Culture

American

Title

Coat worn by N. W. Chapin

Year

ca. 1840

Medium

Wool broadcloth (fulled plain weave) with gilt brass buttons; Buttons stamped Robinson Jones & Co. Extra Fine Rich

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • silk

Dimensions

Center back length: 83.8 cm (33 inches) (jacket)

Type

  • Fashion,
  • Costume

Credit

Gift of N. David Scotti

Object Number

79.080.2

Projects & Publications

Publications

Artist Rebel Dandy

Men of Fashion

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Artist, Rebel, Dandy

April 26 - August 18, 2013

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.

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Coat worn by N. W. Chapin with the accession number of 79.080.2. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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