Breeches

Unknown Artist

ca. 1740

Breeches by Unknown Artist

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...

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