1835-1840 ca. Man’s Gold Silk Banyan. Made from 18th century quilted gold patterned silk. A Banyan is an 18th century men’s garment often worn as a morning gown, dressing gown or informal coat. This banyan is like a fitted coat. 1835-1840 (garment); 1740-1790 (material) via American Textile History Museum. athm.org

Banyan: Also called a dressing gown, morning gown or Indian robe. Originated in India but adopted in England by the late 1600s. Informal wear, not night attire, and came in assorted shapes from loose kimono-style robes to more fitted robes. They were worn instead of a coat in informal situations, such as with family or for an evening at home with close friends, or for a country breakfast. Underneath a banyan, a man usually wore a shirt, matching waistcoat and breeches. During the Georgian Era, a matching cap was often worn instead of a wig, making the whole a fashionable outfit and not just a robe. Victorian smoking jackets were based on earlier banyans.