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Pants worn by Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup in the film 12 Years a Slave

Catalog Data

Designed by:
Patricia Norris, American, 1931 - 2015  Search this
Worn by:
Chiwetel Ejiofor, British, born 1977  Search this
Created by:
Western Costume Company, American, founded 1912  Search this
Subject of:
Solomon Northup, American, 1808 - 1875  Search this
Medium:
synthetic fiber, wood and plastic buttons
Dimensions:
H x W x D (On form): 51 × 16 1/2 × 10 1/2 in. (129.5 × 41.9 × 26.7 cm)
Type:
trousers
Date:
2013
Description:
This pair of gray-blue fall-front trousers was worn by Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup in the film 12 Years a Slave (2013). The pants are made from a heavy weight synthetic or synthetic and cotton blend plain woven fabric that is light blue in color, but has been heavily distressed to appear a dull light gray. The trousers close at the front waist with three (3) round light brown wooden buttons. The front flap closes with six (6) of the same buttons, leaving only the topmost center waist button visible when closed. There are two (2) welted pockets, one at each front side waist, that are not visible when the front flap is closed. The weft is cut in several places and left to unravel over the loose warp threads. The hems of the full-length pants are also left raw and unraveling.
The interior back waist band and the pockets are lined in gray synthetic fabric. The rest of the pants are not lined. Six (6) gray plastic buttons are sewn in the interior waistband for fastening suspenders, two (2) at the proper left front, two (2) at the proper right front, and two (2) at the center back. A white barcode with black printed text is adhered to the waist band lining at the interior proper left back that reds "WESTERN COSTUME" above the barcode and "40877607" below. A white paper tag with text handwritten in black ink reading "Solomon" is attached to the back waistband lining below the barcode with a length of bent metal wire that is pierced through the lining.
Topic:
African American  Search this
Actors  Search this
Clothing and dress  Search this
Costume  Search this
Costume design  Search this
Design  Search this
Film  Search this
Men  Search this
Slavery  Search this
Credit Line:
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Western Costume Company
Object number:
2015.158.2.5
Restrictions & Rights:
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
See more items in:
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
Classification:
Clothing-Costume
Data Source:
National Museum of African American History and Culture
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd55c605003-9404-4864-83a1-033c37c35bba
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmaahc_2015.158.2.5