Not currently on display at the V&A

Heavy Union Tea Cloth

Towel
1880-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a sample of heavy linen tea towelling. The required length would be cut and hemmed. The sample formed part of the stock of the Fore Street Warehouse Co. Ltd. and printed in black on the sample is 'T60 Heavy Union Tea Cloth'. It is likely that this sample was held at the Warehouse and shown to prospective customers (shops and other retail outlets).

Little is known of the supply of retail textile goods in London in the late 19th century so this linen provides important information on middlemen and warehouse procedure at the time.

John Pollock, the donor's grandfather, worked at the Fore Street Warehouse Company Ltd from 1875, eventually becoming Director. The company is listed in the 1866 Post Office Directory as trading at 104-107 Fore Street, London.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHeavy Union Tea Cloth (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Woven linen
Brief description
Sample of 'Heavy Union Tea Cloth', natural coarse heavy linen tea towelling, probably woven in Ireland, 1880-1900
Physical description
Sample of plain woven linen tea cloth of heavy quality for use in the kitchen. A natural coarse linen with a naturally shiny surface. The towel shows the full width with selvedges with raw top and bottom edges.
Dimensions
  • Length: 91.5cm
  • Width: 69cm
Marks and inscriptions
'T60 Heavy Union Tea Cloth' (Printed in black)
Credit line
Given by Mary Barnard
Production
Probably woven in Ireland.
Summary
This is a sample of heavy linen tea towelling. The required length would be cut and hemmed. The sample formed part of the stock of the Fore Street Warehouse Co. Ltd. and printed in black on the sample is 'T60 Heavy Union Tea Cloth'. It is likely that this sample was held at the Warehouse and shown to prospective customers (shops and other retail outlets).

Little is known of the supply of retail textile goods in London in the late 19th century so this linen provides important information on middlemen and warehouse procedure at the time.

John Pollock, the donor's grandfather, worked at the Fore Street Warehouse Company Ltd from 1875, eventually becoming Director. The company is listed in the 1866 Post Office Directory as trading at 104-107 Fore Street, London.
Collection
Accession number
T.39-2005

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Record createdSeptember 2, 2005
Record URL
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