Officer's dress coat

1866-1881

Place madeSt. Petersburg, Russia, Asia

Wool, silk, linen, metal

Overall: 5 x 26 x 45 1/2 in. ( 12.7 x 66 x 115.6 cm )

Gift of William W. Hoffman, Francis Burrall Hoffman, Murray Hoffman, and Colonel Albert Lincoln Hoffman

1956.219a

This dress coat was worn by Colonel Wickham Hoffman (b. 1821), while serving as Secretary of the American Legation at the Court of Versailles, 1866-1875, and as Secretary of Legation at St. Petersburg, 1877-1882.

DescriptionDark blue wool serge double-breasted officer's dress coat; 1" closed stand-up collar (1 hook and eye); metal attachments at the shoulders for epaulettes; 7 buttons down both sides of bodice, both sides of the bodice have buttonholes; closed false cuffs have 3 buttons and 3 vertical stripes of gilt lace with a button at the top of each; 4 panels at the back of the bodice with 2 buttons near the center at the waistline, a button on each side of split skirt; inside lined wtih black twill-weave silk, sleeves lined with white twill-weave silk, breast lightly padded and quilted, each side of skirt has a pocket lined with brown linen; all buttons cast with shield-breasted eagle clutching a branch and arrows.

Markingsembroidered: on tag inside neck: "Ed. Henry / St. Petersburg" stamped: reverse of each button: "D. EVANS & CO. / ATTLEBORO MASS"

ClassificationsMILITARY TOOLS & EQUIPMENT: UNIFORM