Jacket

In the pictureThis is a long sleeveless vest shown on a mannequin. Over finely crazed cream leather, several vertical strips of faded pinkish leather are applied and edged with thin green and red cords. On both sides of the front opening, round gray metal buttons line up in two rows of about fifteen each, and beside and below them, set in floral motifs, are pieces of mica that shine like mirrors. The edges are trimmed with overlapping leather cut into round loops, and there are bands of brown fur at the neck and armholes. At the lower sides, wavy leather strips overlap where the pockets are.

BackgroundAccording to the record, the materials are leather, mica and metal, the back length is 77.5 cm, and the date is 1840–70. Though it is called a jacket, it is classified as children's outerwear, so this long vest that covers the hips is recorded as a child's garment. Mica is a transparent mineral that peels off in thin layers, and it was used to create sparkle in place of costly mirrors or metal. Small red and green bobbles are dotted around the floral motifs. It comes from the Brooklyn Museum's 1920–21 collecting expedition and is several decades older than the 1887 jacket from the same expedition. Its accession number is 2009.300.53.

Puzzle tipThe two rows of metal buttons and the red vertical bands form the vertical axis, so start with these lines. The mica pieces can look white or black depending on the reflection, so find them by the shape of the surrounding floral motifs rather than by color. The large floral ornaments at the lower sides and the wavy pocket strips are the reference for the bottom, and the looped edging draws the outline. The mannequin and black stand showing through the open front form the center line. The white mannequin and gray background go last. 100 pieces works well.