Drawing by Lilian Hocknell of children in Chilprufe garments, for commercial use; England, ca. 1925-30

Drawing in pencil, ink and wash, on cream coloured paper-faced card. The illustration shows a group of five children gathered on and around a sofa: the eldest is a girl in a belted dress with a pleated skirt (or possibly two separate garments) and stockings and low-heeled shoes. She is holding out a rose to the youngest child, who is standing to her true right on the sofa and wears a smock and knickers with socks and strap shoes; behind the youngest is a girl in a tunic dress with similar socks and shoes. On the true left of the girl in the centre is a slightly younger girl in a dress with a pleated skirt, with socks and strap shoes; a young boy in a tunic and shorts, with striped socks and strap shoes, is kneeling on the floor playing with alphabet blocks. The illustration is finished with a curved top.

Produced for Chilprufe Ltd

Attribution note: Illustration for manufacturer's catalogue

Lilian Hocknell (ca. 1891-1977) produced a considerable body of illustrative work, mainly in the form of advertising artwork and book illustration. One of her best-known working relationships was with Chilprufe Ltd, a leading UK manufacturer of children's clothing, and this illustration was produced for use in their catalogues and advertisements.

The Chilprufe (originally Chillproof) brand was founded by John Adams Bolton (1867-1945) in Leicester in 1906. Chilprufe garments were of high quality, were good value and were very much in mainstream taste for the first sixty years of the twentieth century. Although the company also produced garments for adults, and a range of children's outer clothing under the brand name 'Pobbie', it is best remembered for children's underwear.

B.18-2006