Breeches
Unknown Artist
ca. 1740
Medium
silk, cotton, leather
Classification
Breeches
Culture
British
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Irene Lewisohn Trust Gift, 1981
Accession Number
1981.118.1
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of 18th British fashion with these exquisite breeches, crafted around 1740 by an unknown. Made from luxurious silk, practical cotton, and sturdy leather, this garment exemplifies the fine tailoring and material innovation of the Georgian era. Silk provided a shimmering, opulent surface befitting the upper classes, while cotton and leather ensured durability for everyday wear beneath a gentleman's coat and waistcoat. In mid-18th-century Britain, breeches the cornerstone of men's attire—knee-length trousers fastened with buckles, symbolizing refinement and social sta...