Textile: Napoleon costume jacket belonging to Charles S. Stratton
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
1850 – 1860 (Date manufactured/created)
Measurement Notes: overall length: 18 1/4"; flat width: 12"
Miniature military style jacket in green, cream and scarlet wool worn by Charles S. Stratton, better known by his stage name, "General Tom Thumb." The jacket was part of a costume used to portray Napoleon Bonaparte, one of several characters Stratton regularly played and his most popular; he performed comedic impersonations of the French general for much of his career. Various photographs of Stratton in that role show him wearing jackets like this one though each having a slight difference in design. This jacket is thus not the only "Napoleon jacket" he wore. Stratton was a little person, and when P. T. Barnum met him, he was less than two feet tall, at about five years of age. Stratton grew very slowly over the course of his life, eventually reaching 42 inches in height. The size of this jacket indicates it was likely worn when Stratton was a young adult, not a child, since it is not as tiny as the earliest surviving examples of his clothing, nor as large as clothing worn in his later adult years. The main body of the jacket is made of wool dyed "Napoleon green," which has a muted tone, a slightly grey green color. The revers (lapels), cuffs, standing collar, and lining of the coat tails are made of an off-white or cream color wool, while the detailing is in scarlet (bright red) color wool. The front opening edges are cut away in a deep curve beginning at the center of the chest and ending just below the waist. The cut of the false lapels echoes the curved opening. The lapels are trimmed with brass buttons, which are non-functional, since the jacket closes at the front with hidden hooks and eyes. The butttons are genuine British military buttons dating to the early 1800s, an unintentionally humorous detail, Napoleon being French and famously having defeated the English Duke of Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo. The sleeves are closely fitted to the arms, and end in off-white cuffs trimmed each with a vertical band of scarlet wool and three buttons. The wool lining of the coat tails shows significant damage, probably from insects, and has been poorly repaired. On the righthand side, there is an area of damage caused by many tiny "punctures," apparently from something that was stitched to the fabric. A couple of tiny fragments of printed paper remain in that area, although the few visible words, such as "the," do not provide any clue as to the content of the paper once there. There is staining in the same area, which the attached paper may have disguised. The back of the jacket features curved seams, and a pair of pocket flaps, cut to form three points on their lower edge and finished with brass buttons. The flaps are stitched just below the back waistline and above the tails. Stratton's Napoleon costume included a felted black bicorn hat and tall leather boots, as well as fitted breeches (short pants that button just below the knee). The museum does not own the breeches that belonged with this jacket, and most likely they no longer exist. The jacket body is lined in cream color silk, now in tatters. The garment will need conservation treatment to reverse the poor repairs and preserve the damaged lining.
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Charles S. Stratton (January 4, 1838 - July 15, 1883) was an entertainer who got his start with P. T. Barnum in the early 1840s. Stratton's parents signed him with Barnum when the boy was barely five years old. The family went to live in New York City where Stratton performed at Barnum's American Museum, located on Broadway at Ann Street. The little boy took quickly to performing, and on tours he entertained audiences worldwide, including royalty. Stratton's performances brought him renown, becoming one of the biggest celebrities at the time, and considerable wealth. In 1863, Stratton married fellow performer and little person M. Lavinia Warren; the two had a happy marriage, and continued touring and performing. On July 15, 1883, Stratton suffered a stroke and passed away. He is buried at Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
2017.004.001