Child's embroidered silk coat, probably British, 1880-95. Child's single-breasted coat of petrol blue silk twill, lined throughout with dark cream figured cotton and embroidered in the style of the Arts and Crafts movement. The coat has a turn-down collar

Child's embroidered silk coat, probably British, 1880-95. Child's single-breasted coat of petrol blue silk twill, lined throughout with dark cream figured cotton and embroidered in the style of the Arts and Crafts movement. The coat has a turn-down collar lined with dark blue silk, and wrist-length sleeves with mitred turn-back half cuffs. The garment is constructed in six panels, the two front ones with the effect of a waist seam, and is box-pleated from neck to hem at front (five pleats) and back (three pleats). The collar, half cuffs and box-pleats are richly worked in silk threads with flowers, fruit and leaves in hand-stitched embroidery and laid work, in white, purple and shades of blue, red, pink, and green, outlined with couched gold thread. The stitches used include satin stitch, feather stitch, herringbone stitch, detached buttonhole stitch and blanket stitch, and tied cross stitch; some of the motifs are also decorated with beadwork. The collar and front pleats are edged with split blanket stitch in coral silk thread, and the hems of the sleeves and the top of the neck front have been covered with strips of ornamental machine embroidery. The garment opens the length of the front, fastening with closed hooks and eyes.  Silk textile, silk thread, cotton textile, gold thread; hand sewing, embroidering, laid work, couching.