Hunting coat

As well as being a popular sport, hunting acquired a greater social status than ever during the 19th and early 20th century. To be seen on the hunting field was an essential attribute of social success. This important collection from Castle Howard, Yorkshire, includes seven scarlet coats and one blue coat as well as waistcoats, breeches, stockings and boots. Many of the coats have hunt buttons engraved with foxes and initials to denote the various hunts the members belonged to, such as Holderness, Eton and Bedale.