Physical description

Child's fancy dress pirate costume consisting of six parts: jerkin, hat, eyepatch, belt, sword and sheath.

The sleeveless jerkin is made from blue and white striped cotton, it fastens at the shoulders with metal press studs. A white cotton collar is partially attached to the back of the neck, it fastens around the neck with press studs.

The hat is made of stiffened black cotton with an applied skull and crossbones motif in the centre, made from cotton-backed plastic.

The eyepatch is made from black cotton and is fixed to a lenth of black elastic.

The belt is made from black imitation leather. From it hands a sheath made from black leatherette, into which can be slid the sword, which is made from moulded cardboard and balsa wood.

Place of Origin

Surrey (probably, made)

Date

1920-1939 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Cotton, hand-sewn; plastic; moulded cardboard; leatherette; balsa wood

Dimensions

Height: 10.1 cm, Width: 16.4 cm

Object history note

Part of a collection of fancy dress costumes given to the V&A in 1978 which were made for and worn by the eight children of Dr and Mrs Andreae of Tandridge, Surrey (see MISC.319 to 351-1978). The names of the chidren were:

Caroline Constance (b. 22/06/1915)
Mary Charlotte (b. 03/02/1917)
Janet Frances (b. 16/08/1918)
Elizabeth Helen (b. 27/09/1919)
Bridget Beryl (b. 09/07/1921)
Edina Philippa (b. 03/08/1924)
John Edward (b. 20/12/1926)
Octavia Margaret (b. 26/07/1929)

The costumes passed into the ownership of St. Peter's School in Tandridge, whose headteacher, Anne Pullar-Strecker, donated them to the Museum.

Descriptive line

Fancy dress pirate costume for a child; England, 1920-1939

Materials

Cotton; Cardboard; Leatherette; Balsa

Techniques

Hand sewing; Moulding

Subjects depicted

Pirates

Categories

Fancy-dress; Children's clothes

Production Type

Unique

Collection

Museum of Childhood