Machine knitted silk tricot breeches are rare. The V & A have one pair and Colionial Williamsburg a black pair. They must have been very nice to wear!
Provenance:The Baines family, Bell Hall, Naburn , Yorkshire.
Of fine striped herringbone silk in a taupe shade, the front with fall front and three buttonholes, the waistband with a shallow front left hand side pocket, buttons to sides and centre, for securing the flap, Baines, Bell Hall hand written in black ink inside one of the side pieces, above a deep pocket, the back with a strap, the knee cuffs with three buttons, all silk covered and silk ties. The inner flall front flap lined in linen, similar to inserted back section and pockets, the waistband in natural cotton.
Back to hem 34 in; 87 cm
The back insert is of linen and is a later addition, presumably when the wearer put on weight. Several buttons are missing and some have been replaced. Button missing from back tie.
https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/3b55d483-f652-33bf-8009-f8a18a88e866
http://catalogue.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/files/u-ddbh.pdf
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