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.
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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 |
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| Gallery label | Pear-shaped pockets worn in the 18th century, like those shown here, can be considered one of the precursors of today’s handbags. Hidden from view, they allowed small belonging such as money, jewellery, mirrors and combs to be discreetly carried on the body. The pockets were sewn to a tape or ribbon and tied around a woman’s waist, worn beneath the gown, petticoat and hoops but above the shift. They could be accessed through inconspicuous openings in the side of the gown and petticoat.
V&A, Room 40, Bags: Inside Out. (12/2020) |
| 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 |
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| Record created | December 20, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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