434284 Man\'s Three-piece Suit: Coat, Waistcoat, and Breeches, c.1775-85 (silk faille with embroidery in silk chain stitch & silk plain weave ribbon) by French School, (18th century); center back length (coat):108 center front length (coat):99.1 center back length (waistcoat):58.4 waist (waistcoat):96.5 length (breeches):64.8 waist (breeches):78.7 cm; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania, PA, USA; (add.info.: Fashionable men\'s suits of the eighteenth century consisted of a long-skirted coat, waistcoat, and breeches. Suits were usually made of silk, which could be patterned or accented with rich trim or embroidery. In this example, the delicate embroidery includes chain-stitched flowering vines and wheat sheaves fashioned from narrow ombr矇 ribbon. According to family history, the suit was purchased in Paris by General Jonathan Williams, who from 1770??0 was often in Europe on political and other business; wearing a fine suit would have been a necessary part of his position there. ); 穢 Philadelphia Museum of Art ; Gift of Mrs. Arthur Biddle, 1935; French, out of copyright.