Long Petticoat
1850-1875 (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 swaddling, 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. Mass production techniques introduced during the 19th century created increasing consumer choice, and led to the abandoning of much of the exquisite but labour-intensive embroidery and finishing of the garments which had previously characterised infants' clothing.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen |
| Brief description | Long petticoat for a baby or doll, white linen; made in the UK, 1850-1875 |
| Physical description | The white linen petticoat has a rounded drawstring neck edged with scalloped broderie anglaise, and puffed sleeves cartridge pleated into a band of piping edged with matching broderie anglaise. The fullness of the bodice front is cartridge pleated into the neckline at two
points, and pulled into a single point at the waist to give a triangular line (conventional in long gowns) to the bodice front. The back of the bodice has a slight fullness gathered into the neck and waist at each side. The skirt is cartridge pleated into the bodice, and is finished with rows of narrow tucking, broderie anglaise insertion hand embroidered with double feather stitching, and scalloped broderie anglaise edging. The garment fastens at the back of the bodice with two bound buttons and stitched buttonholes, and a drawstring at neck and waist. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Elisabeth Crowdy gift |
| Object history | Found by the donor, Mrs Elisabeth Crowdy, when turning out her mother's house (RF 85/1796) |
| 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 swaddling, 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. Mass production techniques introduced during the 19th century created increasing consumer choice, and led to the abandoning of much of the exquisite but labour-intensive embroidery and finishing of the garments which had previously characterised infants' clothing. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | MISC.223-1991 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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