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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.

  • Coat
  • Hat
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 createdApril 19, 2000
Record URL
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