Sock thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Sock

ca. 1851 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type

W. H. Morley showed a group of socks at the Great Exhibition of 1851. They demonstrate the varied patterns and colours which an industrial process could easily produce. The plaids and tartans were in keeping with the current fashion for all things Scottish, which the Royal family helped to make popular.



Materials & Making

The feet are joined to the rest of the sock by stitching, instead of knitting in one continuous piece. This method makes the stockings last longer because the construction is stronger, and the stitches are less likely to unravel. Some years later the London department store Debenham & Freebody developed a range of stockings made in this way which they claimed were twice as strong as those made by other methods.



Usage

During the 19th century there was some argument about whether children should wear socks or stockings. Some adults thought that socks were more practical and easier to keep clean. Others thought that stockings were smarter and warmer. Socks with elasticated tops like these would certainly have been more comfortable than wearing stockings with a garter (a strip of fabric) tied around the leg.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Machine-knitted wool and cotton
Brief description
Socks
Physical description
Of machine knitted wool with a chequered pattern of black, red and yellow plaid. It has a horizontally striped welt. The toe is white.
Dimensions
  • Maximum height: 27.2cm
  • Maximum width: 13cm
  • Foot length: 18.9cm
  • Maximum length: 32.2cm
  • Maximum width: 14.5cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 29/08/2000 by ET
Gallery label
British Galleries: CHILDREN'S SOCKS
Morley's showed these machine-knitted socks to illustrate features such as elasticated tops and the variety of colourful patterns that they could produce.(27/03/2003)
Credit line
Given by the maker
Summary
Object Type

W. H. Morley showed a group of socks at the Great Exhibition of 1851. They demonstrate the varied patterns and colours which an industrial process could easily produce. The plaids and tartans were in keeping with the current fashion for all things Scottish, which the Royal family helped to make popular.



Materials & Making

The feet are joined to the rest of the sock by stitching, instead of knitting in one continuous piece. This method makes the stockings last longer because the construction is stronger, and the stitches are less likely to unravel. Some years later the London department store Debenham & Freebody developed a range of stockings made in this way which they claimed were twice as strong as those made by other methods.



Usage

During the 19th century there was some argument about whether children should wear socks or stockings. Some adults thought that socks were more practical and easier to keep clean. Others thought that stockings were smarter and warmer. Socks with elasticated tops like these would certainly have been more comfortable than wearing stockings with a garter (a strip of fabric) tied around the leg.
Other number
AP.162:5 - Previous number
Collection
Accession number
T.62B-1959

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Record createdMay 9, 2003
Record URL
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