Suit dated around 1720/ Perkeo
Male Suit, 1720
Following the portrait of Clemens Pankert, called PERKEO
In 1720, Elector Carl Philipp brought Clemens Pankert from Salurn/Tyrol. He is supposed to have been a rather intelligent and assertive sort of person and made a huge career despite his disability of being short of stature.
He was a high-rank courtier of Elector Carl Philipp of Heidelberg at the beginning of the 18th century. In the first place he came to Heidelberg known as “court dwarf” as was presented to the court as amusement and oddity.
His pseudonym is said to derive from the circumstance that whenever being asked for a glass of wine, he replied in Italian perché no? (=Why not?)
Soon after that his career was launched. His task as court master and cupbearer was to watch over the Electors wine cellar, particularly over the content of the enormous wine barrel of Heidelberg Castle: back then, it was the biggest of four barrels with 195.000 litres content and up to 230 tons of wine it, consequently the biggest barrel in the world.
Perkeo was famous for his extensive wine consume, it is even thought to have been his only beverage consumed at all for all his lifetime.
In his eighties, he turned ill for the first time. A doctor advised him to refrain from wine and drink water instead. Despite his provisos and fear he followed the advice … they say he died the next day.
Mandated by the Perkeo Association in Heidelberg, this robe was turned into reality and revived again.
As the wearer represents the city of Heidelberg at many official appointments we decided on a suit made of pure silk velvet. Contrary to the usual qualities available, this is of a tight and stiff quality. It comes from a French manufacturer, which has been offering this fabric since three centuries. Only this quality was in use in the 18h century.
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The suit is embroidered with mostly antique silver braids, attached in careful handwork. The waistcoat is made of red silk satin. The silvered buttons were manufactured by a tin worker in Nuremberg. Naturally it was finished with antique lace.
Following the example of still existent woollen coats from Sweden this red splendour coat with over 30 hand embroidered, horse hair filled decorative buttons was done.
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To be seen here: accessories like the shoes with original antique buckles, the stock with antique buckle, hand embroidered stockings and the tricorn with the suitable quotation embroidered on it: “Screwed Button Maker - Celemens of Termini”
Rounding up: the knee band stating “Honi soit qui ma y pense”
