Vest
Unknown Artist
ca. 1820
Medium
linen
Classification
Vest
Culture
European
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Lee Simonson, 1938
Accession Number
C.I.38.23.25
Art Historical Context
This elegant linen vest, crafted by an unknown European artist around 1820, offers a glimpse into early th-century fashion from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. Made from breathable, lightweight linen—a natural fiber prized for its and coolness in warmer months—this garment likely served as an underlayer or lightweight waistcoat in men's attire. European clothing during the Regency era emphasized tailored silhouettes, with vests adding structure and ornamentation to frock coats and trousers. Historically, such pieces reflect the transition from neoclassical restraint to the...