Augusta Auction Company
December 8th, 2021, 11am
Preview December 7th, 12-5pm
33 Gage St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101
WWW.AUGUSTA-AUCTION.COM
Vintage & Couture Clothing, Historic Textiles,
Fashion Accessories, Lace & Jewelry
from many Museum & Private Collections

BRATTLEBORO, VT. — Augusta Auction’s historical clothing and rare textile sales continue to dazzle and amaze collectors from every niche of the fashion world. However, the firm’s December 8 sale promises to be exceptional particularly for collectors of Colonial and early American Republic menswear. Augusta Auctions will present several lots of waistcoats from the Dorothy Quincy Homestead in Quincy, Mass., never before offered at public auction. The sale will be conducted at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center.

The collection is notable for the condition of the items, the fine craftsmanship and, not least of all, for the connection with one of the most prominent families of the early American Republic. Dorothy Quincy, for whom the homestead is named, was the cousin of Abigail Adams (mother of John Quincy Adams) and was the wife of Founding Father and Massachusetts governor John Hancock. She was the first and third First Lady of Massachusetts and the sister of Colonel Josiah Quincy, who built the Quincy House.
Though several garments bear only the name of the Quincy Homestead, many others were accessioned with the names of the original owners or descendants. One such example is a sleeved waistcoat, which came into the collection of the National Society of the Colonial Dames (NSCDA) around 1904 when the Quincy Homestead was saved by a citizen drive. As a result, the homestead was placed in a public-private conservatorship whereby the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Colonial Dames would henceforth jointly operate it as a house museum. Just a few short years after, in 1909, the NSCDA recorded the long- term loan of the waistcoat by former Boston Mayor Josiah Quincy IV. In 1985 it was officially donated and has remained in the Dames costume collection ever since.

The waistcoat itself, which dates to the 1740s or 1750s is an example of fashionable dress of the period. Constructed of blue ribbed silk, it is elaborately embellished with gold thread rapport embroidery, gold braid and metallic sequins. It also features foil covered domed buttons with metallic tinsel and stitched cord overlay.
Another item dating from the same period and originating with the Quincy family estate is a silk and metallic brocaded waistcoat. Woven tisse en form (or woven to shape) of brocaded multicolored silk, it depicts a floral garland entwined with a metallic lace motif in undulating columnar form on a teal patterned silk ground. This piece shares the button attributes with the sleeved waistcoat previously mentioned and is lined in a fine glazed tabby wool and linen.
In recognition of this collection, Augusta Auctions is planning to conduct its first live cataloged sale in nearly two years. Preview will be conducted on Tuesday, December 7, from 11 am to 5 pm. The sale will commence at 11 am on December 8 and is open to live, phone, internet and absentee bidding
The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center is at 10 Vernon Street. For more information, www.augusta-auction.com or 802-463-3333.

North America’s #1 Auction House for Couture & Vintage Fashion
(802)451-6555 or (802)376-7166
Studio (802)463-3333 or contact@augusta-auction.com
SALE INFO, CATALOG & THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS
Your choice of bidding platforms
At The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
10 Vernon Street Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
Live Sale & Preview to be held at: Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
Mariano Fortuny Peplos Gown
Evening Gown, 1940s
Emilio Pucci Velvet Sheath Dress
Comme des Garcons Lamé Dress, SS 2001
Colonial Fancy Dress Costume, 1930-1940s
Linen Motoring Duster, 1910s
Lea Stein Brooches
Lamé Robe de Style 1920s
Issey Miyake Reverse Pleat Dress
Gold Embroidered Waistcoat, 1740-1750s Stays, Mid 18th c.
Early 19th c. TWA Paper Dresses, c. 1968
Lace Applique Wedding Veils
Three Knit Bathing Suits, 1920-1930s
Silk & Metallic Brocaded Waistcoat, 1740-1750s
Parisian Lamé Brocade
Velvet Evening Coat, c.1895
Sequined Evening Garments, 1920s
Cisele Velvet Cocoon Coat, 1920s
Gilbert Adrian Skirt Suit
Saltillo Card Table Covers & Runners
Chantilly Lace Shawl, 1850s
Four-Piece Promenade Dress, c. 1868
Portuguese Chasuble Panel, c. 1700
Pearl Embellished Wedding
Couture Schiaparelli Tree Bark Cape, c. 1934 Dress, c. 1895
Featured lots include a couture Schiaparelli “Tree Bark” crepe capelet c. 1934, a fine Mariano Fortuny Peplos gown, an important collection of 17th & 18th C needlepoint & embroidered textiles, a collection of 1920s-1950s knitwear from the Fashion Institute of Technology and several lots of Colonial and Early American Republic menswear from the Dorothy Quincy Homestead, the home of Founding Father John Hancock.