An intricately patterned silk is the decorative highlight of this 1760s man’s formal coat. Known as a ‘tissue’ by virtue of the weaving technique, the silk features a red ground with a meandering lace pattern in white, embellished with yellow and blue flowers. The simple, round cuff was a new development in men’s fashion, replacing the wide ‘wing’ cuff of the 1740s. The long buttonholes are purely decorative; the plain buttons have been made from the silk of the coat covering a wooden core.