Double Face Banyan

anonymous, c. 1750 - c. 1800

Wealthy Dutch men began wearing housecoats in the 17th century. They were based on kimonos, and thus called ‘Japonse rokken’, or Japanese gowns. They became more detailed and were provided with an asymmetrical overlap from the mid-18th century. A typical feature are the braids, which were used as fastenings and sometimes also as decoration. This coat is reversible.