Tail coat
Maker & role
J.M. Cavanagh & Co., Maker
Production date
1903
See full details
Object detail
Title
Formal men's tail coat for the Sydney Hunt Club, provenanced to George Terry.
Production place
Collection
Measurements
0 - Whole, L: 115 x W: 62cm (L: 1150 x W: 620mm)
Production notes
'Hunting pinks' were a speciality of renowned 18th century London tailor, Thomas Pink, hence their name. The fabric is rain resistant and tightly woven to render it immune from thorns and branches on the hunt.
The raised sleevehead dates to 1890s and this fashion also featured a narrow back. Red muslin lining added when conserved.
The raised sleevehead dates to 1890s and this fashion also featured a narrow back. Red muslin lining added when conserved.
Signature & marks
Printed label inside right breast pocket has: 2 lion crest & 'J.M.CAVANAGH & CO.,/ 287 GEORGE ST, SYDNEY'
Handwritten: 'L 9 6 03 G.A. Terry'
Button engraving
- front: 'SH (refers to Sydney Hunt) - 5th Dragoon Guards - 'VDG'' - reverse: 'FIRMINS/ +108 ST MARTINS LANE/ LONDON"
Handwritten: 'L 9 6 03 G.A. Terry'
Button engraving
- front: 'SH (refers to Sydney Hunt) - 5th Dragoon Guards - 'VDG'' - reverse: 'FIRMINS/ +108 ST MARTINS LANE/ LONDON"
Credit line
Gift, NSW Department of Planning and Environment, 1987
Rouse Hill Estate Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Rouse Hill Estate Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Rouse Hill Estate Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Rouse Hill Estate Collection, Museums of History New South Wales
Caption
Formal men's tail coat for the Sydney Hunt Club, provenanced to George Terry. Wool and silk with brass buttons. J M Cavanagh & Co., Sydney, ca.1900.
Description
A Hunt Club evening tail-coat once worn by George Terry [1871-1957, m. Nina Rouse 1895]. Calf length double-breasted scarlet woollen tail-coat, trimmed with three brass buttons on each side of front, marked 'SH' [monogram of the Sydney Hunt Club].
The first Sydney Hunt Club was first founded in August 1872. The extended Terry family were prominent club members, and their participation was central to the club’s survival. Edward Terry, MLA, was one of its founding members and went on to be its ‘Master of the Hunt’. His nephew George Terry of Box Hill held the same roles after 1900. While a photograph of a club meet taken at Rouse Hill in July, 1885 shows most riders in informal hunting attire referred to as ‘ratcatchers’, later photographs such as those published in The Lone Hand [‘Hunting in New South Wales’, Sept. 2, 1907] show them in the more familiar red coats known as ‘riding pinks’, worn by English foxhunters. Like the military ‘redcoats’ before them, the bold colour made them easy to spot in the landscape.
Rather than for riding, this coat is likely a club dress tail-coat, to be worn at formal occasions. At the 1903 St Vincent’s Hospital fancy dress ball male members of the Club, including George Terry, seem to be wearing these coats as part of ‘The Hunting Set’ [see R86/186 and R85/10].
The first Sydney Hunt Club was first founded in August 1872. The extended Terry family were prominent club members, and their participation was central to the club’s survival. Edward Terry, MLA, was one of its founding members and went on to be its ‘Master of the Hunt’. His nephew George Terry of Box Hill held the same roles after 1900. While a photograph of a club meet taken at Rouse Hill in July, 1885 shows most riders in informal hunting attire referred to as ‘ratcatchers’, later photographs such as those published in The Lone Hand [‘Hunting in New South Wales’, Sept. 2, 1907] show them in the more familiar red coats known as ‘riding pinks’, worn by English foxhunters. Like the military ‘redcoats’ before them, the bold colour made them easy to spot in the landscape.
Rather than for riding, this coat is likely a club dress tail-coat, to be worn at formal occasions. At the 1903 St Vincent’s Hospital fancy dress ball male members of the Club, including George Terry, seem to be wearing these coats as part of ‘The Hunting Set’ [see R86/186 and R85/10].
Accession number
R93/124
Share
Maker
Object name
Subject
Technique
Contact Us
Head Office
The Mint, 10 Macquarie St
Sydney, NSW 2000
On Gadigal land
T 02 8239 2288
TTY 02 8239 2377
E info@mhnsw.au
Public comments
Be the first to comment on this object record.