Description

Maroon velvet surcoat heavily ornamented with gold. The woman’s coat has a fitted bodice and full, calf-length skirt. The bodice and skirt are almost entirely covered with scrollwork embroidery, worked with metallic gold cord and metallic gold thread, except for a plain panel on each side of the bodice front and at the centre of the bodice back. The bodice is sleeveless in the front; there are long, flat panels that suggest sleeves, attached at the shoulders and back arms; these are worn crossed and fastened with hook and eye at the centre back below the waist. The edges of the bodice meet at centre front; although there are eight decorative buttons on each side of the centre front opening of the bodice, there is no provision for fastening. Buttons are made of metallic gold thread wrapped around a wooden core, trimmed with small coral beads. Smaller buttons at the bottom edge of "sleeves." There are pockets on each side of the skirt, just below the waist. All edges are bound with patterned silver ribbon and five rows of heavy gold cord. The garment, which is very stiff and heavy, is entirely interlined with animal skin, which supports the weight of the metallic embroidery. Bodice and skirt are lined with orange cotton damask; sleeves are lined with striped black, white and yellow cotton broadcloth.