Textile: Charles S. Stratton's Court Suit, 1844
Charles S. Stratton (General Tom Thumb)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
Southworth, Mary (associated with)
1844 – 1855 (Date manufactured/created)
Miniature court suit made of brown silk velvet, probably mid-1840s or 1850s, worn by Charles S. Stratton, a little person better known by his stage name General Tom Thumb. The suit consists of a fitted, cutaway tailcoat and breeches with faceted cut steel buttons. The pale gold satin lining is not original to the garment. A fine white linen shirt with ruffled front would have been worn with the jacket, and white silk stockings with the breeches.
Stratton was a performer who worked for the showman P. T. Barnum, and Stratton played a variety of character roles for which he had different costumes. This suit may be one of his costumes, or it may have been worn in the Royal court, when he was introduced to Queen Victoria while touring the British Isles with Barnum.
Stratton was a performer who worked for the showman P. T. Barnum, and Stratton played a variety of character roles for which he had different costumes. This suit may be one of his costumes, or it may have been worn in the Royal court, when he was introduced to Queen Victoria while touring the British Isles with Barnum.
T 2008.005.001 AB