Elizabethan and Early Jacobean Jackets

Following are embroidered jackets (and portraits of women wearing embroidered jackets) from late 16th and early 17th century England. When possible, jackets are identified by museum accession numbers to help distinguish one from another. See also An Elizabethan Embroidered Jacket and the Plimoth Plantation Embroiderers' Story.

The term used for this garment in the 16th century seems to be "waistcoat"; see the inset descriptions at right for some additional examples from the New Year's gifts given to Queen Elizabeth.

• Art Institute of Chicago 1945.159, 16th century
• English jacket, c. 1578

By the Lady Harrington, a wastecote of lawne, faire wroughte with Venis gold and black silke. By the Lady Leyton, a waistcote of white sarsnett, ymbrodered round about with a border of eglantne flowers, and ymbrodered all over with a twist of Venis gold. New Year's Gifts for Queen Elizabeth, 1588-1589 By the Barronnes Burghley, one wastecote of white sarcenett, embrothered with flowers of silke of sondry colors. New Year's Gifts for Queen Elizabeth, 1599-1600

• Back of an embroidered jacket, c. 1590-1600
• Portrait of Elizabeth Vernon, c. 1600 (also here)
• Maidstone jacket, early 17th century
• V&A 1359-1900, first quarter of the 17th century
• V&A 919-1873, first quarter of the 17th century
• Gallery of Costume jacket, 1600-1625
• Portrait of an unidentified lady, c. 1605
• V&A T.106:1 to 4-2003, 1600-1620
• Blackwork jacket, c. 1605-1615
• Diagram of an embroidered jacket, c. 1610
• Margaret Laton's jacket and portrait (jacket c. 1610 with alteration c. 1620; portrait c. 1620). See also V&A Access to Images and search for Museum Numbers E.214-1994 and T.228-1994, and also these detailed photos of the jacket
• MFA 43.243, c. 1610-1615
• Miniature portrait of an unknown woman, 1600-1620 (use V&A Access to Images and search for Museum Number P.6-1942)
• Portrait of Dorothy Cary, later Viscountess Rochford, c. 1614-1618
• Burrell Collection jacket, c. 1615-1618
• Portrait of Lady Dorothy Manners, c. 1615-1620
• Met 23.170.1, c. 1616
• Fashion Museum, c. 1620 (also here)
• V&A T.4-1935, 1620s
• V&A T.259-1926, 1620-1640
• V&A T.124-1938, 1630s
• V&A (?), c. 1630-1640