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Child's Blouse

Blouse
1700-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The skill and attention to detail with which this small child's blouse was made is still evident and astonishing, despite the fact that the linen cloth has discoloured with age. The garment’s maker used ample amounts of linen for the body and sleeves, ensuring comfort and freedom of movement. The material is gathered tightly at the neck and wrists and secured with lines of decorative stitching in black silk. Gussets under the arms would have allowed the child even greater movement.

Instead of using simple seams, the sleeves and gussets have been attached with embroidered insertions worked in linen thread. The insertions imitate lace and are a light and delicate complement to the volume of fabric falling from the neck. A similar effect has been achieved along the top of the shoulder by pulling together threads from the linen ground and securing them with white and light brown silk.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleChild's Blouse
Materials and techniques
Linen, embroidered with silk and with linen insertions
Brief description
Child's blouse, linen, silk, embroidered, Spain, 1776-1799
Physical description
Child's blouse, linen embroidered with silk and with linen insertions.
During the Colonial period Mexican Indians adopted many Spanish textile techniques and garments. This method of sleeve construction is still seen in some communities in Mexico.
Credit line
Given anonymously
Summary
The skill and attention to detail with which this small child's blouse was made is still evident and astonishing, despite the fact that the linen cloth has discoloured with age. The garment’s maker used ample amounts of linen for the body and sleeves, ensuring comfort and freedom of movement. The material is gathered tightly at the neck and wrists and secured with lines of decorative stitching in black silk. Gussets under the arms would have allowed the child even greater movement.

Instead of using simple seams, the sleeves and gussets have been attached with embroidered insertions worked in linen thread. The insertions imitate lace and are a light and delicate complement to the volume of fabric falling from the neck. A similar effect has been achieved along the top of the shoulder by pulling together threads from the linen ground and securing them with white and light brown silk.
Bibliographic references
  • Chloë Sayer, Mexican Textiles, London, 1990, p. 94-95
  • Rosemary Crill, Jennifer Wearden and Verity Wilson, Dress in Detail from Around the World, London, V&A Publications, 2002, p. 164
Collection
Accession number
T.144-1924

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Record createdFebruary 9, 2004
Record URL
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