Head Cover
1907 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The major change in baby clothes during the 19th century was the development of an increasingly large and complex layette of 'long clothes' needed in place of swaddling to keep the baby as warm. The form of this layette was to last for almost a hundred and fifty years, and the long gown, having been previously associated with rituals such as Christening or Circumcision, became daily wear.
The baby was freed from being bound in swaddling bands, but enveloped in more and heavier garments than previously: binder, nappy, pilch or nappy cover, shirt or vest, two caps, bodice, barracoat (flannel wrapper), petticoats, gown, cape or shawl, bib or pinafore, socks and shoes. Head covers like this one were preferred to caps and bonnets by some parents and carers, especially for outdoor wear, as they covered the neck and shoulders too.
The baby was freed from being bound in swaddling bands, but enveloped in more and heavier garments than previously: binder, nappy, pilch or nappy cover, shirt or vest, two caps, bodice, barracoat (flannel wrapper), petticoats, gown, cape or shawl, bib or pinafore, socks and shoes. Head covers like this one were preferred to caps and bonnets by some parents and carers, especially for outdoor wear, as they covered the neck and shoulders too.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Flannel, embroidered |
| Brief description | Baby's head cover, ivory-coloured flannel with scalloped edges and embroidered decoration; made in the UK, 1907 |
| Physical description | The head cover consists of an oblong of ivory-coloured flannel with scalloped edges that are buttonhole-stitched in cream embroidery silk; sprays of trefoils are embroidered around the edges in stem and satin stitches. The cover has a self fabric casing for a gathering string to make it fit the wearer's head. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Stella Haywood |
| Object history | Said to have been made by her mother, Mrs Haywood, for the donor's birth in February 1907 |
| Production | Home made: see History 1 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The major change in baby clothes during the 19th century was the development of an increasingly large and complex layette of 'long clothes' needed in place of swaddling to keep the baby as warm. The form of this layette was to last for almost a hundred and fifty years, and the long gown, having been previously associated with rituals such as Christening or Circumcision, became daily wear. The baby was freed from being bound in swaddling bands, but enveloped in more and heavier garments than previously: binder, nappy, pilch or nappy cover, shirt or vest, two caps, bodice, barracoat (flannel wrapper), petticoats, gown, cape or shawl, bib or pinafore, socks and shoes. Head covers like this one were preferred to caps and bonnets by some parents and carers, especially for outdoor wear, as they covered the neck and shoulders too. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.368-1991 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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