Boy's robe of bronze-coloured silk made in France in about 1750This boy's robe dates from a era when young boys in Europe wore garments with skirts, a custom with unclear origins, but which most likely had to do with making it easier for them to urinate. The style was common until about 1920. A boy usually received his first breeches or trousers between four and seven years of age, sometimes in a special ceremony held by the family.Boy's robe of unlined bronze-coloured silk, the fabric woven in a self-coloured vertical pattern of zig-zag stems bearing leaves and flowers. The garment has a V-shaped neck front which is rounded at the back, close-fitting wrist-length sleeves, and wide flaring skirts. A broad full-length robing of self fabric runs from neck to hem at each side of the front, and gives the impression of an over-garment. The robe, which opens the length of the front, originally fastened down the chest with five buttons and stitched buttonholes.