Shift
1800-1820 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an example of a woman’s chemise made in the early 19th century. It was usually made of linen and was the item of underwear worn next to the skin, underneath the body-shaping stays. The short, ungathered sleeve and wide, shallow, ungathered neckline correspond to women’s fashions of the first two decades of the 19th century. It is a development of the 18th century shift which was similar in style and materials. By the early 19th century, however, the word ‘shift’ was considered vulgar, so the equivalent French term, ‘chemise’ was adopted. A decorative ruffle of muslin or lace edging would have been sewn around the narrow band of linen at the neckline.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Linen, linen thread and silk thread; hand sewn. |
| Brief description | Shift, F, British, 1800-1820, linen |
| Physical description | A woman's shift of linen, with a 3/4 inch band around the neckline and short, ungathered sleeves. The shift is cut in one piece with diagonal shaping at the sides. The sleeves are of a slightly coarser weave than the body. There are three groups of three tiny buttonhole stitches embroidered in pink silk thread at the centre front edge of the neck band. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | When acquired, the shift was thought to have belonged to Mary of Modena. The cut and style of the shift indicate that it dates from the early 19th century. |
| Summary | This is an example of a woman’s chemise made in the early 19th century. It was usually made of linen and was the item of underwear worn next to the skin, underneath the body-shaping stays. The short, ungathered sleeve and wide, shallow, ungathered neckline correspond to women’s fashions of the first two decades of the 19th century. It is a development of the 18th century shift which was similar in style and materials. By the early 19th century, however, the word ‘shift’ was considered vulgar, so the equivalent French term, ‘chemise’ was adopted. A decorative ruffle of muslin or lace edging would have been sewn around the narrow band of linen at the neckline. |
| Associated object | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.467:1-1997 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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