Military coat
Unknown Artist
1775–83
Medium
wool, metal
Classification
Military Coat
Culture
American
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Frank Sherman Benson Fund, 1930
Accession Number
2009.300.1098
Tags
Art Historical Context
This military coat, crafted from wool and metal between 1775 1783, offers a tangible glimpse into the American Revolution. Worn by soldiers of the Continental Army, it embodies the grit and determination of those fighting for independence from British rule. The coarse wool fabric provided essential warmth and durability for harsh wartime conditions—marching through forests, enduring rainy campaigns, and facing brutal winters like Valley Forge—while metal elements, likely buttons or insignia, added structure and a touch of formality to the uniform. As a rare survivor from this pivotal era, the...