Object number
88/7/1-2
Creator
Description
A hand-operated sewing maching on a wooden base and with a wooden lid. Both the machine and box are finely decorated with inlay. The sewing machine was manufactured by Dulcia and is No. 529. It is also marked 'Fortescue Bros. // West St. // Reading', which may be the name of the agent who sold the machine.
Invented in the early 19th century, the sewing machine sped up the process of making clothes both domestically and commercially. Within the home, it reduced the amount of time women spent tailoring clothes for their families, enabling them to craft more garments for sale. Due to the sewing machine, the clothing industry flourished, with different fashions becoming available for the middle classes. However, workers did not see an increase in wages and they suffered in dreadful working conditions. The demand for better wages formed an important arm of the suffragette movement.
Physical description
1 sewing machine: metal; wood; good condition
Archival history
MERL ‘Handwritten accession form’ (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Standard museum name: SEWING MACHINE // Accession number: 88/7/1–2 // … // Recorder: JMB // Date: 10.6.88 // Description: Hand operated machine on a wooden base with wooden lid. The machine has gilt decoration and inlaid ‘pearl’ decoration on base. The wooden box is also finely made with a decoration of inlaid wood and pillars carved at the corners. // Dimensions: Box Dimensions: 49 Length x 26 Width x 29 Height cm // Associated information: Makers name on machine: DULCIA // Number: 529 // Agent? FORTESCUE BROS. // WEST ST. // READING'
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