The decoration on this waistcoat is, to say the least, subtle: the relief pattern is achieved by threading a cord through narrow stitching in the cotton material. The official term for this technique is Point de Marseille, but it is also known as Zaans stikwerk (Zaan needlepoint). The Dutch name possibly derives from the important trading position of the Zaan region in the 17th and 18th centuries: people were introduced to foreign products in this area therefore used its name. There is a similar garment in the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Their waistcoat has the same symmetrical floral pattern and dates from 1744, when this technique was incredibly popular. This type of waistcoat was mainly worn in the summer as it was comparatively light-weight and relatively easy to wash. The waistcoat is adjustable at the back.