Sack

1720s (weaving), 1760s (sewing), 1920 - 1960 (altered)
Sack thumbnail 1
Sack thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Artist/Maker
Place Of Origin

A woman's sack and petticoat of blue silk brocaded in a formal design in silver of pomegranates with flowers in chenille and floss silk in red and pink, rust, black and white. The sack is open at the front, with robings to the waist and elbow-length sleeves with double, scalloped sleeve ruffles. The back has two, double box pleats, stitched at the neckline. The sack is made of 6 widths of silk; with a waist seam from side back to front. The sleeves and skirts are lined with blue silk taffeta. A band of silver and silver-strip bobbin lace, arranged in a serpentine lines, decorates the skirt fronts. edges the sleeve ruffles and robings.

The sack and petticoat were heavily altered in the mid-20th century for fancy dress. The petticoat was pieced with blue silk and completely resewn by machine. A new lining for the sack bodice was machine-sewn and boned. The waist seam was resewn. A new stomacher was made and sewn to the right bodice front, and hooks and eyes added to the left side and bodice front.


object details
Categories
Object Type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Sack
  • Petticoat
Materials and Techniques
Silk, silk thread, silver thread, whalebone, cotton, cotton thread; hand-woven brocade, hand-sewn, hand-made bobbin lace, machine-sewn
Brief Description
A woman's sack and petticoat, 1760s, English; Blue silk brocaded with silver, coloured chenille and floss, large floral design, Spitalfields 1720s; altered 1920-60
Physical Description
A woman's sack and petticoat of blue silk brocaded in a formal design in silver of pomegranates with flowers in chenille and floss silk in red and pink, rust, black and white. The sack is open at the front, with robings to the waist and elbow-length sleeves with double, scalloped sleeve ruffles. The back has two, double box pleats, stitched at the neckline. The sack is made of 6 widths of silk; with a waist seam from side back to front. The sleeves and skirts are lined with blue silk taffeta. A band of silver and silver-strip bobbin lace, arranged in a serpentine lines, decorates the skirt fronts. edges the sleeve ruffles and robings.



The sack and petticoat were heavily altered in the mid-20th century for fancy dress. The petticoat was pieced with blue silk and completely resewn by machine. A new lining for the sack bodice was machine-sewn and boned. The waist seam was resewn. A new stomacher was made and sewn to the right bodice front, and hooks and eyes added to the left side and bodice front.
Dimensions
  • Silk, selvedge to selvedge width: 54.5cm (approx)
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by Mrs M. C. Crawley
Collection
Accession Number
T.14&A-1961

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

record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL