Boy's one piece suit of unbleached nankeen trimmed with cutwork embroidery (bodice with trousers); Scotland, 1820-25

Boy's one piece suit of unbleached nankeen, consisting of a bodice with ankle-length trousers attached.

Opening at back, the breeches fasten to the bodice with buttons at the back. The bodice is high-waisted, with short puffed sleeves and a low square-cut neck finished with a draw-string. The front of the bodice is embroidered in broderie anglaise, as also is the narrow scalloped collar. The ends of the trousers are also finished with scallops and broderie anglaise embroidery. There is a narrow belt of self material, buttoned openings at the sides of the trousers, and a gusset, open at one side, in the front.

Given by Mr W. Duff Stewart

Gift of Mr W Duff Stewart (RF 43/995)
(from original register description): "A letter from the donor says that this was found when turning out family relics. It was labelled "Grandad's first suit". Grandad was born in 1820, & was the son of the parish church minister at Grange, Banffshire. It might be thought that this suit was a "Kate Greenaway", but the antecedents are perhaps against this."

[In fact, as Kate Greenaway was not born until 1846, it would be quite impossible for this suit to show her influence anyway. Note by Noreen Marshall]

The minister at Grange between 1821 and 1844 was Rev William Duff, and was the father of the journalist and dramtist Andrew Hamilton (1830-1877)

T.22-1943