Textile: Miniature embroidered silk vest belonging to Charles S. Stratton

Textile: Miniature embroidered silk vest belonging to Charles S. Stratton


1850 – 1865 (Date manufactured/created)
Measurement Notes: width: 13 3/4"; CB height 13"

Cream color vest dating to the mid-1800s, embroidered with flowers and finished at the edges with brown binding. The garment originally belonged to Charles S. Stratton, better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb."  Embroidery is decorative stitching worked on the surface of fabric, and at this time period the stitching was done entirely by hand.  Stylistically this miniature vest imitates men's high fashion of the late 1700s, almost a century before Charles's time.  For the wealthy, "best" vests or waistcoats were often embellished with silk embroidery, even more elaborate than this.  It is likely that this vest was part of a costume Charles wore, perhaps to portray a character of the 1700s.  The silk vest features a meandering vine with green leaves and flowers in shades of soft rose, blue and cream.  The vine follows the neckline down to the front opening, and along the lower edges of the front.  The remaining areas are embroidered with small floral sprigs, and the rectangular pocket flaps each contain an embroidered pink flower.  The silk fabric is now fragile and has become frayed in many areas of the garment.  The vest back is made of a cotton or linen fabric which would not be visible when a jacket was worn with the vest.  Alterations to adjust the size were typically made in the back sections of the vest.  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

1976.001.099
Thumb, Tom, 1838-1883