Pair of Pockets
1740s (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In the 18th century, women’s pockets were not sewn into their gowns. Instead they were attached to a tape and tied around the waist as separate garments. Worn under the hoops and petticoats, they were accessed through openings in the gown and petticoat seams.
They were sometimes made to match other garments, for example a bodice or petticoat. This pair of quilted yellow silk pockets is part of an ensemble with a matching waistcoat (T.87-1978). Such a bright shade of yellow was popular for women’s dress from the 1740s to the 1770s. Many bodices, waistcoats and aprons of the mid-1700s used the technique of quilting for both decoration and warmth. An elaborate quilted scroll adorns the pocket edges, with a plain diaper pattern in the centre.
The top edge of each pocket is angled slightly, possibly to make the pockets sit correctly over the hips. Whether these were fastened in front or behind the waist is not clear from documentation and images of women wearing pockets.
They were sometimes made to match other garments, for example a bodice or petticoat. This pair of quilted yellow silk pockets is part of an ensemble with a matching waistcoat (T.87-1978). Such a bright shade of yellow was popular for women’s dress from the 1740s to the 1770s. Many bodices, waistcoats and aprons of the mid-1700s used the technique of quilting for both decoration and warmth. An elaborate quilted scroll adorns the pocket edges, with a plain diaper pattern in the centre.
The top edge of each pocket is angled slightly, possibly to make the pockets sit correctly over the hips. Whether these were fastened in front or behind the waist is not clear from documentation and images of women wearing pockets.
Delve deeper
Discover more about this object
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts. |
Materials and techniques | Silk hand-sewn with silk thread, bound with silk ribbon, stitched to linen tape |
Brief description | Pair of women's pockets of yellow quilted silk, British, 1740s |
Physical description | Pair of yellow silk pockets quilted with a diaper ground in the centre and scrolls around the edge, bound with yellow silk grosgrain ribbon with yellow silk taffeta ribbon. They are stitched to a linen waist tape. This pair of quilted yellow silk pockets is part of an ensemble with a matching waistcoat (T.87-1978). |
Dimensions |
|
Gallery label |
|
Summary | In the 18th century, women’s pockets were not sewn into their gowns. Instead they were attached to a tape and tied around the waist as separate garments. Worn under the hoops and petticoats, they were accessed through openings in the gown and petticoat seams. They were sometimes made to match other garments, for example a bodice or petticoat. This pair of quilted yellow silk pockets is part of an ensemble with a matching waistcoat (T.87-1978). Such a bright shade of yellow was popular for women’s dress from the 1740s to the 1770s. Many bodices, waistcoats and aprons of the mid-1700s used the technique of quilting for both decoration and warmth. An elaborate quilted scroll adorns the pocket edges, with a plain diaper pattern in the centre. The top edge of each pocket is angled slightly, possibly to make the pockets sit correctly over the hips. Whether these were fastened in front or behind the waist is not clear from documentation and images of women wearing pockets. |
Associated object | |
Bibliographic reference | Bags V&A Exhibition (Project)
Bags: Inside Out (2020) Lucia Savi, V&A Publishing, pg 18
|
Collection | |
Accession number | T.87A&B-1978 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | December 20, 2004 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest