Edward Austen (Knight) Silk Suit

Chawton House was owned by Jane Austen's brother,Edward.(After 1812 he was known as Edward Knight and is sometimes refered to as Edward Austen Knight). Edward inherited the Chawton House Estate and Godmersham Park in Kent, and offered his widowed mother and two sisters a home on the estate in Chawton, or accommodation on the estate at Godmersham, they choose to live in Chawton. It was from the cottage in Chawton that Jane Austen started her most productive writing period. The following description of the suit comes from a conservation report compilied by Louise Squire in 2009. "The matching silk frock coat and breeches are dated to approximately 1789. The coat is fully lined with a yellow silk taffeta fabric,with the sleeves being lined in a white plain weave linen fabric.The olive green breeches are constructed in ribbed silk and feature a wide waistband, loose fitting seat and finish below the knee with narrow cuffs. The coat and breeches are a good example of the fashion of the day, with Edward's penchant for oversize buttons!"