Trim on a 1699 waistcoat

[Ivan Henry aka Moose]

Hello,

I am finally having my "dream" kit made for me. As some of you may know it's from Francois Desportes 1699 self portrait. The question my clothier is asking me is "Is the tape on the waistcoat wool with metallic in it or plain worsted wool in that gold color?"

Keep in mind this is 1699. I don't know the answer, but hoping someone does.

Thanks

[callenish gunner]

It could be either; that being said, just how posh do you want your kit to be? If you look closely at his right cuff it appears that his waistcoat is a sleeved version ...oddly you can't see it in the left sleeve of the painting. I also like the pocket detail shown in his breeches.You'll be quite the dandy! But that lass of your deserves a bit of refinement rather than always being seen with that slovenly lout you usually venture forth

Edited November 19, 2009 by callenish gunner

[Ivan Henry aka Moose]

Yeah your right I need to get my country gentleman on! My waistcoat will be sleeveless as I would NEVER have an opportunity to wear a wool coat over a sleeved waistcoat! Too hot!

[Capt. Sterling]

Hard to tell from the painting alone, unless someone has notes from the artist or the sitter... but wool lace or gold metallic would both work, one is just cheaper than the other and easier to work with...

William Booth, draper carries both

[Ivan Henry aka Moose]

Great link Sterling - thanks!

[Captain Jim]

For the two pence it's worth: this is a hunting frock (in the context of the painting) and unlikely to be too fancy.

[Jack Roberts]

But it is velvet. So would you really be doing a lot of hunting in velvet? Maybe that's why it's a sleeved waistcoat.

[Jack Roberts]

Sorry my bad, the breeches are velvet.

[Ivan Henry aka Moose]

It's a self portrait, and obviously (look at the dogs) Mr. Desportes thought he was quite the Man's Man. He isn't wearing a wig, which says, "I'm having a sporting good time with my viral man's hair" Overall, it's a very cocky, wonderful, self proclamation of wealth and virility. I think both his waistcoat and breeches are velvet, but since i live in Floridee, I will probably modify them to linen. I love this painting, and will make a viable recreation (for my climate) with your alls help! :-)

[Capt. Sterling]

For the two pence it's worth: this is a hunting frock (in the context of the painting) and unlikely to be too fancy.

Well from the looks of the painting..and one can only infer...the small clothes look to be made out of velvet which implies silk for the time frame... if the man is wealthy enough for it...and from the looks of him in the painting, the artist is certainly trying to put that idea across, why not go hunting in fancy? The rich have gone hunting in fancy for centuries...

[Gentleman of Fortune]

I have always liked that painting...

sigh...

I have some gold, and some silver metallic braid that is at least 100 years old. The story that I got when I bought it was that the family had owned a tailor shop from about 1850 - 1910. The shop was closed and stuff stored in the attic after that. When Oma and Opa died, the grandchildren sold it all lock stock and barrel to a local antique shop around the corner. (this is all in Bavaria, Germany where I live.

I tried selling some of it a while back... but there are very few folks interested in such things...

If you might be one.... send me a PM and I'll shoot you some pics. If you are very interested, I'll send you some samples.

Cheers

GoF