Cerements of Count Anton Günther of Oldenburg

Consisting of a collarless coat, a jerkin and a pump-trouser, these robes are the cerements of Count Anton Günther of Oldenburg (1583-1667). The back seams of the coat and jerkin are fully open. Thus the ribbon-closed back parts were a specialty of men's fashion between 1620 and 1660. The robes could have been made by the Oldenburger tailor at court Michel Semen (Michael Seemann), who used to get his material from Amsterdam and Paris. The cerement’s state of preservation, which had been taken from the count’s coffin in 1937, was despite unfavorable circumstances unusually good even before the first restoration, which is certainly due to the high-quality silk fabrics. On the other hand, all linen fabrics, such as underwear, sleep-wear, lace-collar, and canons, have decayed completely. The garments’ color may also have changed considerably over the centuries. Originally the coat was likely dyed black.