Not currently on display at the V&A

Drawing

ca. 1922 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Lilian Hocknell (ca. 1891-1977) produced a considerable body of illustrative work, mainly in the form of advertising artwork and book illustration. One of her best-known working relationships was with Chilprufe Ltd, a leading UK manufacturer of children's clothing, and this illustration was produced for use in their catalogues and advertisements.

The Chilprufe (originally Chillproof) brand was founded by John Adams Bolton (1867-1945) in Leicester in 1906. Chilprufe garments were of high quality, were good value and were very much in mainstream taste for the first sixty years of the twentieth century. Although the company also produced garments for adults, and a range of children's outer clothing under the brand name 'Pobbie', it is best remembered for children's underwear.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Drawing in pencil, pen and wash on paper-faced card
Brief description
Drawing by Lilian Hocknell of children in Chilprufe garments, for commercial use; England, ca. 1922
Physical description
Drawing in pencil, ink and wash, on cream coloured paper-faced card. The illustration shows three children dressed in Chilprufe garments: a boy in vest, knee-length underpants, socks and slippers has placed on the floor a clockwork toy clown which is walking towards a boy wearing pyjamas and slippers; they are watched from his cot by a kneeling toddler in a sleeping suit.
Dimensions
  • Height: 46cm
  • Width: 39.5cm
Production typeDesign
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'L Hocknell' (Artist's signature in lower right corner)
  • 'DEEP ETCHED/ HALF TONE AND LINE' (Instructions to printer)
  • 'ORIGINAL £22' (Dealer's indication of state and cost)
  • '37' (on reverse)
Production
Produced for Chilprufe Ltd; see p 11 of Chilprufe catalogue for July 1922 (B.89-1996)

Attribution note: Illustration for manufacturer's catalogue
Subjects depicted
Summary
Lilian Hocknell (ca. 1891-1977) produced a considerable body of illustrative work, mainly in the form of advertising artwork and book illustration. One of her best-known working relationships was with Chilprufe Ltd, a leading UK manufacturer of children's clothing, and this illustration was produced for use in their catalogues and advertisements.

The Chilprufe (originally Chillproof) brand was founded by John Adams Bolton (1867-1945) in Leicester in 1906. Chilprufe garments were of high quality, were good value and were very much in mainstream taste for the first sixty years of the twentieth century. Although the company also produced garments for adults, and a range of children's outer clothing under the brand name 'Pobbie', it is best remembered for children's underwear.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
B.15-2006

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Record createdJune 26, 2007
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