65/281

This is a linen smock with tubing and embroidered boxes. It is a round neck type. It possibly originating from Midlands c.mid 19th century.
This is a linen smock with tubing and embroidered boxes. It is a round neck type. This example possibly originating from Midlands c.mid 19th century.

1 smock: white linen and thread

Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] – ‘The donor of this smock wrote in 1965 ‘would you care to have a linen smock, probably mid 19th century- for the museum? Six were given to me some years ago. Victoria and Albert considered them beautiful work and chose two. Two more went to Tonnes Museum which I am interested in. One to a friend- and one to spare. I think it came from the midlands.’ The Museum accepted the reversible smock of loosely woven linen. The garment is heavily decorated with circular and star motifs and zigzag rows forming diamonds, with band stitching on the cuffs and pocket flaps. Machine stitching is included in the construction of the garment.’ p.22, MERL ‘catalogue form- temporary’ - ‘Sheet 1 of // Smock // PERSONAL clothing garment // material(s)natural linen, loosely woven, white thread // Description: Condition: button broken (cuff) // fabric weak in places, neck mended at ‘v’ edges // Completeness: two buttons missing (cuff + pocket) // Dimensions: total length; 113cm // collar depth; 13cm // cuffs depth; 5cm // possible place of origin; Midlands [donor] // possible date; 1850 – 1900 [donor] // […] // Sheet 2 of // pocket flaps; 4 x 18cm // tubing, back and front, ht x w; 35 x 26cm // tubing, sleeve – top, ht x w; 10 x 4cm // [page break] Description: hand and machine sewn, hand embroidered; // Style: round frock, neck has 1 button back and front, slits at hem edge side seams; // Collar: 2 straight pieces; // Cuffs: straight bands, 1 button on each cuff, 1 on each sleeve above cuff; // pockets: set in at front, at side seam, flaps – 1 button on each; // tubing: outline, cable and points, // back and front – 59 rows, // sleeves, top – 17 rows, above cuffs – 19 rows; // embroidery: feather stitch; boxes – centre has 5 circles of 3 concentric rings 2 containing 8 pointed stars and 3 containing 4 pointed stars, edges with 1 vertical row of 22 diamonds, edged; // collar – as boxes but with 3 circles with 2 4-pointed [star] 1 8-pointed star, row of diamonds on outer edge only; // Shoulders – as boxes but one circle each side // sleeve tubing, top and pocket flap – 3 wavy lines (diamond patter) each side. // Sheet 3 of // tubing, sleeve – above cuff ht x w; 9.5 x 9cm // hem circumference; 134cm // side slits, length; 3cm and 12cm’, MERL ‘Handwritten catalogue’ form - ‘SMOCK // Personal- Clothing- Garments // 65/281 // Miss D. F. Maclagan, Meadle, Nr Aylesbury, Bucks // possibly from midlands: see extract plan letter attached.’, Photographic prints – 'Acc No. // 65/281 // Neg. No. // 60/7761 // 7762', Letter, D.F. Maclagan to Dorothy Wright, 18 May 1965 – 'EXTRACT from a letter written by Mrs. D.F. Maclagan to Dorothy Wright and dated May 18th 1965. // P.S. Would you care to have a linen smock, probably mid 19th cent. - for the Museum? Six were given to me some years ago. Victoria and Albert considered them beautiful work and chose two. Two more went to Totnes museum which I am interested in. One to a friend - and one to spare. I think it came from the midlands. I believe the experts can identify the rural craft by the needlework pattern. Just let me know, and I will post it. // D.F.M.

The Midlands

1850-01-01 - 1900-12-31

Fibre, flax, Fibre

Smocked, Stitched, Embroidered