Bernard Johnson jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A black Bernard Johnson jacket worn by Melvin Van Peebles. The polyester jacket features a folded down collar made from one panel of fabric. Two panels of fabric with a diamond quilt pattern make up the front of the jacket. At the proper left breast is a red embroidered apple logo and there are two vertical pockets – one at each hip – that close with brass metal zippers. Each sleeve diamond pattern quilted sleeve has top panel of vertical quilting with a pocket near the wrist. Each pocket closes with a brass metal zipper with a metal zipper pull. A similar linear quilt pattern covers the collar and cuffs. Four panels of quilted fabric make up the back of the jacket and the inside is lined with black synthetic fabric. There is a layer of cream colored batting in between the outer polyester fabric and the interior lining. A white fabric tag sewn to the proper right interior welted pocket features black embroidered text that reads [BERNARD JOHNSON].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 2000 - 2010
• Created by: Bernard Johnson, American, 1936 - 1997
• Subject of: Melvin Van Peebles, American, 1932 - 2021
• Type: jackets
• Medium: polyester, lining, batting, and metal
• Dimensions: Length: 27 7/8 in. (70.8 cm)
• Dimensions: Width: 22 13/16 in. (57.9 cm)
• Place made: United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Black Enterprise
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Film
• Topic: Musicians
• Object number: 2024.60.8.1
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The displayed image also has an explicit CC0 designation. The underlying object's rights statement is: No known copyright restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.