Apron
1580-1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Paintings from the late 16th and early 17th century show that finely worked linen aprons were common accessories in aristocratic women’s informal dress and middle-class women’s dress. However, because of their elaborate lace and embroidery these aprons were never intended as protective accessories, but as a symbol of an accomplished and capable wife (and in the case of young girls, potential wife). Because of their fragile fabrics and potential for recycling into smaller garments or accessories, few aprons have survived in museum collections.
This finely worked cutwork apron is probably unfinished. It would have had an edging of needle or bobbin lace, and more embroidery in coloured silks may have been intended.
This finely worked cutwork apron is probably unfinished. It would have had an edging of needle or bobbin lace, and more embroidery in coloured silks may have been intended.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen, hand-sewn and hand-embroidered |
| Brief description | A woman's apron of linen, 1580-99, English; cutwork in lozenge pattern, probably unfinished |
| Physical description | An apron made of a width of linen (with selvage at either side) and embellished in cutwork in simple oval, squares and circles, with white linen thread in an overall lozenge pattern. It has a narrow hem at the bottom. At the waist, the linen is gathered and bound by a narrow linen tape which extends at either side into the strings for tying around the waist. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Style | |
| Credit line | Given by Captain A. M. Hughes |
| Object history | The apron is part of a collection originally owned by the late Mrs Augustus Edmonds. |
| Summary | Paintings from the late 16th and early 17th century show that finely worked linen aprons were common accessories in aristocratic women’s informal dress and middle-class women’s dress. However, because of their elaborate lace and embroidery these aprons were never intended as protective accessories, but as a symbol of an accomplished and capable wife (and in the case of young girls, potential wife). Because of their fragile fabrics and potential for recycling into smaller garments or accessories, few aprons have survived in museum collections. This finely worked cutwork apron is probably unfinished. It would have had an edging of needle or bobbin lace, and more embroidery in coloured silks may have been intended. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.87-1917 |
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 | July 6, 2005 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
