A Patchwork Caraco

I've been spending time costume scrolling---good for the mental health in stressful times. 
It's like shopping but no buyers' remorse.

And I came across this caraco in the Nordish Museum (Nordiska Museet) in Stockholm, Sweden. I've been blogging about caracos (short jackets with a peplum ---the ruffle around the hips) because they are such a good example of international trade and textiles in the 17th and 18th centuries. This is the first early patchwork caraco jacket I have seen. The caption dates it to the 18th century, My lack of Swedish prevents me from navigating their catalog so I can't find much more about it.

See more about caracos at these posts:

https://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/2025/12/caracos-around-world.html
https://barbarabrackman.blogspot.com/2025/12/caraco-jackets-fashioning-hypothesis.html

 
Short jackets were a fashion fad joining European women of all classes in the 17th and 18th centuries. French aristocrat Madame Pompadour is pictured in one as is a German servant with a tray of chocolate, painted in 1745 by Jean Etienne Liotarca that's become a worldwide marketing image.

"The Chocolate Girl" and a fashion plate

Cut is similar with fabrics from both ends of the financial spectrum.

Ackermann's London publishing house released a book on Dutch costume by Miss Semple in
1817. Who was Miss Semple? She remains anonymous. Watercolors of the Dutch women show
the popularity of chintz skirts and jackets of different lengths

Dutch correspondents Conny, Titia and I are collecting names in various languages:

DUTCH
“Jak" & “Jakje” = jacket
“Vrouwenjak" = woman’s jacket
"Kinderjakje" = jacket for children)
“Kassakijntje” (Kassakeinjte) = jacket in the Hindeloopen area
“Kroplattan” = a short jacket

1790

FRENCH
“Caraco” = a camisole [caraçao pronounced kara-sow] perhaps from Turkish kerrake alpaca coat
“Cassaquin”
“Pierrot”

SWEDISH
“Kofta” = jacket

AMERICAN

"Calico Short Gown"

1959 Postcard

Woman dressed in traditional caraco style worn in Hindeloopen, Netherlands

France 1760s ---about 25 years before the 

French Revolution changed fashion & society

Read more by Kenna Libes at Fashion History Timeline.
https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/caraco/