Bed Jacket
1740-1780 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This finely pleated and expertly ironed sleeve belongs to a lady’s dressing jacket. Such a garment was particularly necessary when dressing the hair in order to keep the hair powder from contact with clothing. The jacket reaches to the hips and has three-quarter length sleeves, with fine cambric cuffs. A ruffle runs down each edge of the front of the jacket.
To set the fine pleating of the sleeve it had to be held taut at both ends while ironing. Once the length-wise pleats were set, the sleeve was folded cross-wise and ironed again. Eighteenth-century laundresses required great skill to execute this kind of finishing, heating their irons on a stove to the temperature just hot enough to smooth, but not scorch, the linen.
To set the fine pleating of the sleeve it had to be held taut at both ends while ironing. Once the length-wise pleats were set, the sleeve was folded cross-wise and ironed again. Eighteenth-century laundresses required great skill to execute this kind of finishing, heating their irons on a stove to the temperature just hot enough to smooth, but not scorch, the linen.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Linen, hand-woven and hand-sewn |
Brief description | Woman's bed or dressing jacket of linen, Great Britain, 1740-80; pleated sleeves |
Physical description | Woman's bed or dressing jacket of fine, bleached linen. It is hip-length, unfitted, with a round neck and opening at the centre front. It has long sleeves to the wrist, gathered and pleated with starch and set with ironing. There is an edging of 2-inch (5 cm) wide gathered muslin around the neck, and down the front. Around the cuffs is ¾-inch (1.8 cm) wide gathered muslin edging. |
Dimensions |
|
Production type | Unique |
Summary | This finely pleated and expertly ironed sleeve belongs to a lady’s dressing jacket. Such a garment was particularly necessary when dressing the hair in order to keep the hair powder from contact with clothing. The jacket reaches to the hips and has three-quarter length sleeves, with fine cambric cuffs. A ruffle runs down each edge of the front of the jacket. To set the fine pleating of the sleeve it had to be held taut at both ends while ironing. Once the length-wise pleats were set, the sleeve was folded cross-wise and ironed again. Eighteenth-century laundresses required great skill to execute this kind of finishing, heating their irons on a stove to the temperature just hot enough to smooth, but not scorch, the linen. |
Bibliographic reference | Hart, Avril and Susan North, Historical Fashion in Detail: The 17th and 18th Centuries, London: V&A Publications, 1998, p.52
|
Collection | |
Accession number | T.28-1969 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
Record created | August 15, 2006 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest