Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Men's Waistcoat







From the seller:

This antique Victorian era US Congressman Marius Schoonmaker wedding waistcoat vest dates from 1837. It is hand stitched and made of an off white ivory cream color silk damask brocade fabric, with a tropical anthurium leaf and scrolling floral garland pattern design. There is a brown linen fabric backing, with back adjustment tabs and the original linen lacing ties. It is fully lined in linen. There is a high broad fold over collar lapel, fitted short cropped cinched waist, three front slit pockets and tiny silk covered buttons for closure on the front. This dapper gentlemen's waistcoat vest is a small size in which he would have been corseted to draw in the waistline, prevalent during the Romanticism period. The vest measures 17 inches long, with a 30 inch waist and 36 inch chest. It is in excellent clean wearable condition and looks to have been worn once by the groom on his wedding day. There is a note of provenance pinned onto the waistcoat, "Marius Schoonmaker's Wedding Vest Dec. 13th, 1837" in which he married Elizabeth Van Wyck Westbrook. Marius Schoonmaker 1811-1894 was a US Congressman. Elected to represent New York's 10th District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1851-1853. Member of the New York state Legislature and Mayor of Kingston, New York. This is truly a wonderful rare early waistcoat vest!

From Me:

When I get married, I think I'll suggest my future husband wears something like this...

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