95/45

Hand-sewn non-reversible coat type smock made from natural cotton twill and natural thread. Given to the donor's mother in the 1970s.
A hand-sewn non-reversible coat type smock made from natural cotton twill and natural thread. There is smocking on the chest at the front and back, and at the top of the sleeves and above the cuffs. There are rows of emrboidery for decoration on the side panels, yoke and collar. The smock was given to the donor's mother in the 1970s.

1 smock: twilled cotton; good condition

Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] - ‘A coat style smock, possibly originating from Devon. The garment is very basic; the smocking is simple and loosely worked with rows of featherstitching on the side panels, yoke and collar for decoration. Techniques used for construction of the garment are not to a good standard, but the cotton twill smock is in reasonable condition and only showing few signs of wear.’ (p.30), MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Museum of English Rural Life) – 'Standard museum name: SMOCK // Accession number: 95/45 // Classification: PERSONAL clothing garment // Negative number: 60/16551 // Acquisition method: GIFT // Recorder: JMB // Date: 21.2.95 // Description: Large coat-type smock made of twilled cotton. It has a collar and two pockets with flaps. Panels of smocking at back and front and on the cuffs. Also feather stitching on back, front and collar. Metal buttons down the front. // Dimensions: Length: 130 cms. // Associated information: This smock was given to [donor’s] mother in the mid 1970’s by someone living in BRENTOR which is just north of TAVISTOCK.’, Letter, Jill Betts to Mrs Frost, 6 December 1994 – ‘ Dear Mrs Frost // Thank you for sending the smock to us. We are very pleased to have it. It is a good example of a coat-type smock made from cotton twill. It is hand stitched and although the smocking is of a simple pattern it is traditional and executed in linen thread. // it is difficult to say how old it might be. Some of the buttons appear to be of a type common before the First World War. Some of the others look more recent. There is also a laundry mark at the neck. // This smock probably dates from the early part of this [20th] century and may have been made by someone for her husband to use in the garden or allotment. This was sometimes a practice followed by people with rural connections who remembered the smock as a useful working garment before overalls were available. // These are of course only suggestions. // Yours sincerely, // Mrs J Betts’

Brentor

1900-01-01 - 1924-12-31

Early-twentieth century

Fibre, cotton, Fibre, Metal

Smocked, Stitched, Embroidered