Child's Fur Coat and Hat
1975-1980 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Fur garments were among the earliest cold weather clothes, particularly in areas with severe winters, such as northern Europe. They were expensive to buy, and those who could not afford such items for themselves or their children would buy garments trimmed with fur, or perhaps a fur hat or gloves. Wool was also worn for warmth, and could be afforded by many more people, especially when it became possible to buy woollen yarn to knit clothes at home. Leather was probably the earliest form of waterproof fabric, and was often worn by people working out of doors; the mackintosh (waterproof coat) was patented in 1823, but early examples were usually heavy and could become smelly. Poorer people simply wrapped themselves in as many garments as they could, sometimes padded with old newspaper, but still felt the cold: their few clothes were often thin and fitted badly.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Beaver lamb fur with rayon lining |
Brief description | Child's fur coat and hat; made in the former USSR, 1975-80 |
Physical description | Child's coat and matching hat of dark brown beaver lamb fur. |
Credit line | Given by Mrs C E Matthews |
Object history | Gift of Mrs C E Matthews (RF 93/232). Bought in Minsk by Mrs Cook (a Russian neighbour of the donor) for her own son Simon (b 29/04/1977), and later worn by her daughter Joanna (b 29/10/1979); then worn by Mrs Matthews' daughters Lauren (b 18/08/1981), Amy (b10/12/1983) and Isabel (b 29/05/1986). No photographs were taken of any of them wearing the coat and hat. |
Summary | Fur garments were among the earliest cold weather clothes, particularly in areas with severe winters, such as northern Europe. They were expensive to buy, and those who could not afford such items for themselves or their children would buy garments trimmed with fur, or perhaps a fur hat or gloves. Wool was also worn for warmth, and could be afforded by many more people, especially when it became possible to buy woollen yarn to knit clothes at home. Leather was probably the earliest form of waterproof fabric, and was often worn by people working out of doors; the mackintosh (waterproof coat) was patented in 1823, but early examples were usually heavy and could become smelly. Poorer people simply wrapped themselves in as many garments as they could, sometimes padded with old newspaper, but still felt the cold: their few clothes were often thin and fitted badly. |
Collection | |
Accession number | B.52:1, 2-1993 |
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Record created | April 19, 2000 |
Record URL |
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