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The short sailors waistcoat


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I've seen a couple of websites that offer a "short sailors" waistcoat. I've seen pictures of a few reenactors with them on as well. What i am not finding is any historical mention of them. It's basically a waistcoat that only comes to the waist. Man I am full of questions this week. I'm hoping these were PC as i already picked one up last week from a Sutler in Saint Austine.rolleyes.gif

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i think i saw those sold by somke and fire, they had alot of things that were french cut or style. you know the problem with the french is they are just so french. you might try doing a period sreach on the other side of the channel. pirates wear what they catch. it does look good they had a longer one they was good looking too.

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Most of the period paintings I've seen of sailors depict them wearing a shorter waistcoat ...so I would surmise that they would indeed be period for GAOP :(but I have been wrong before ....(Did I type that out loud???)

Gentleman of Fortune's page

Edited by callenish gunner
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Most of the period paintings I've seen of sailors depict them wearing a shorter waistcoat ...so I would surmise that they would indeed be period for GAOP :(but I have been wrong before ....(Did I type that out loud???)

Gentleman of Fortune's page

I've looked for it recently (but not too hard), and not found it, but if you can find the link to Foxe's images of sailors from the GAoP, you will see that short waistcoats seem to be a bit more common than the longer ones (for sailors anyways). And I will state (overstate) that while short waistcoats seem to be more common (based on those images and others I have seen), long waistcoats are seen enough as well. Or there is always the chance that Foxe will see this and re-post the link himself (or BlackJohn and/or GoF often seems to have this link at his fingertips as well).

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My research seems to correspond with mikes.....if the sailors had waistcoats, they seemed to be of a shorter cut that those of an average man(my impression has always been so that they would fit under the short jackets)....bbbuuutttt more than anything, iv seen more engravings and paintings showing sailors oonnllyy wearing the jackets and neckerchiefs on the upper body...but thats just what iv seen........

-Israel Cross-

- Boatswain of the Archangel - .

Colonial Seaport Foundation

Crew of the Archangel

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It's often hard to tell from period engravings, but are we sure we are talking about short waistcoats and not jerkins? The cut of the one in the picture, especially the pockets, just seems to scream 19th C to me. Even the shortest of the pics in Foxe's collection does not show anything above the waistline. I see several that could be either waistcoat or jerkin but all extend below the belt line.

Hawkyns

Cannon add dignity to what otherwise would be merely an ugly brawl

I do what I do for my own reasons.

I do not require anyone to follow me.

I do not require society's approval for my actions or beliefs.

if I am to be judged, let me be judged in the pure light of history, not the harsh glare of modern trends.

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It's often hard to tell from period engravings, but are we sure we are talking about short waistcoats and not jerkins? The cut of the one in the picture, especially the pockets, just seems to scream 19th C to me. Even the shortest of the pics in Foxe's collection does not show anything above the waistline. I see several that could be either waistcoat or jerkin but all extend below the belt line.

Hawkyns

I think that a sleeved, short waistcoat was common among sailors from late in the 17th century well into the 18th century. You can see this in several period pictures including the ones of Anne Bonny and Mary Read dressed as men (with cleavage). The one of Blackbeard wearing a thrum cap might also be a sleeved waistcoat.

All it takes is once in a boat in a longer waistcoat and you see why they wore shorter ones.

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What luck you're in, as I happen to have the 1731 & 1740 slop contracts out on my desk today :)

Striped ticken waistcoats not less than 30 inches in length (1731) or specifically 30" (1740)

Kersey waistcoats 31.5 & 29 inches in length, depending on quality/cost (both years)

It's also important to note that the ticken waistcoats are lined with white linen & have 2 linen pockets, while the kersey waistcoats are unlined & have no mention of pockets.

Chole

"If part of the goods be plundered by a pirate the proprietor or shipmaster is not entitled to any contribution." An introduction to merchandize, Robert Hamilton, 1777

Slightly Obsessed, an 18th Century reenacting blog

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Interesting topic...

I was conversing with a fellow in France and he sent me an image out of a book - I wish I knew what book - of a sailor, circa 1700, wearing a short jacket over a long wesket...

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And check out the moustache!!!

Edit;

Here's the site it's from; http://historic-marine-france.com/uniforme/uniformeimagerie.htm

Edited by Dorian Lasseter

Truly,

D. Lasseter

Captain, The Lucy

Propria Virtute Audax --- In Hoc Signo Vinces

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Ni Feidir An Dubh A Chur Ina Bhan Air

"If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me." Deuteronomy 32:41

Envy and its evil twin - It crept in bed with slander - Idiots they gave advice - But Sloth it gave no answer - Anger kills the human soul - With butter tales of Lust - While Pavlov's Dogs keep chewin' - On the legs they never trust... The Seven Deadly Sins

http://www.colonialnavy.org

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oh thanks Dorian


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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Comment, Capitaine Sterling? Y a-t-il un problème ?

Truly,

D. Lasseter

Captain, The Lucy

Propria Virtute Audax --- In Hoc Signo Vinces

LasseterSignatureNew.gif

Ni Feidir An Dubh A Chur Ina Bhan Air

"If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me." Deuteronomy 32:41

Envy and its evil twin - It crept in bed with slander - Idiots they gave advice - But Sloth it gave no answer - Anger kills the human soul - With butter tales of Lust - While Pavlov's Dogs keep chewin' - On the legs they never trust... The Seven Deadly Sins

http://www.colonialnavy.org

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Non, aucun problème, juste un intéressant trouve. Il est agréable de voir autre chose.


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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Mais oui!

Truly,

D. Lasseter

Captain, The Lucy

Propria Virtute Audax --- In Hoc Signo Vinces

LasseterSignatureNew.gif

Ni Feidir An Dubh A Chur Ina Bhan Air

"If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me." Deuteronomy 32:41

Envy and its evil twin - It crept in bed with slander - Idiots they gave advice - But Sloth it gave no answer - Anger kills the human soul - With butter tales of Lust - While Pavlov's Dogs keep chewin' - On the legs they never trust... The Seven Deadly Sins

http://www.colonialnavy.org

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Just found this in my collection. I remember this illustration is just slightly out of period, but I think it is pretty clear what this sailor is wearing.

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This looks pretty consistent with earlier ones. No pockets. Smaller cuffs than landsmen wear so that the sleeves don't get caught on things. I've heard that sailor's fashions changed more slowly than other trades.

Notice that his tricorn is "backwards". I've seen this before on sailors.

Mark

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Carefull there, these images of french sailors from the 17th and 18th century are actually contemporary stuff from the early 20th century

Most assuredly agree, but sure has opened a door to want to start looking for any extant 17th/18th century evidence those pictures are based on...


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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Hey look it's Sterling!

**Whack** do I have to put ye on a leash too, like Dogge?? Like I would ever wear such a colour combination....sheesh...

;):huh:

Edited by Capt. Sterling


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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Actually it seems green was the rage during the 1660s-70s(a time frame, the crewe is not doing as far as pyracy goes)... Kass has stated some where in Twill that shades of indigo were more in keeping with our time frame...

Edited by Capt. Sterling


"I being shot through the left cheek, the bullet striking away great part of my upper jaw, and several teeth which dropt down the deck where I fell... I was forced to write what I would say to prevent the loss of blood, and because of the pain I suffered by speaking."~ Woodes Rogers

Crewe of the Archangel

http://jcsterlingcptarchang.wix.com/creweofthearchangel#

http://creweofthearchangel.wordpress.com/

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There's a link to my (badly in need of updating) picture site in my signature, and there's a discussion about these French sailor images somewhere on the Pirate Brethren forum.

Foxe

"With this Fore-Staff he fansies he does Wonders, when, God knows, it amounts to no more but only to solve that simple Question, Where are we? Which every chi'd in London can tell you." - Ned Ward The Wooden World Dissected, 1707


ETFox.co.uk

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  • 2 weeks later...

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