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Not currently on display at the V&A

Shirt

1830 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England (made)

This dress shirt is made of linen, with a high collar and detachable muslin frills at the cuffs and front opening. The ruffles at the front are known as a jabot, and flare out over the opening of the fastened waistcoat. The collar was worn up and tied around with a neck tie.

A well-dressed gentleman wore at least two clean shirts every day, one for day and one for evening wear. This shirt is embroidered with a coronet to show that it was owned by a member of the nobility.

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Object details

Categories
Clothing
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Shirt
Materials and techniques
Linen trimmed with fringed and embroidered muslin
Linen
Embroidery
Brief description
Shirt of white linen, England, 1830
Physical description
Shirt of white linen with curved turned down collar. The centre front and cuffs are trimmed with a muslin frill embroidered with spots and edged with a white cotton fringe and fastened with wound thread buttons.
Dimensions
  • Width: 62in
  • Length: 36in
  • Chest circumference: 148cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Nape hem length: 96cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Across back width: 67cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Sleeve length shoulder to cuff length: 74cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Sleeve length underarm to cuff length: 66cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Wrist circumference: 17.5cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Width cuff to cuff width: 210cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Collar height height: 6cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
Marks and inscriptions
'8H.4' (Embroidered to right hand front-side slit.)
Gallery label
  • This dress shirt is made of linen, with muslin frills at the cuffs and chest that are detchable for ease of laundering. A well-dressed gentleman wore at least two clean shirts every day, one for day and one for evening wear. It was not uncommon for a wealthy gentleman to own around 60 shirts. This shirt is embroidered with a coronet to show that it was owned by a member of the nobility. Man's shirt Britain, about 1830 Linen with muslin frill and Dorset thread buttons Given by the Earl and Countess of Harrowby V&A: T.97-1963(2013-2015)
  • Practical Luxury Etiquette decreed that only a shirt's collar, front and wristbands could be revealed in public. This fine linen evening shirt is decorated with a front frill and cuffs made of embroidered muslin, edged with cotton fringe. The are detachable and can be laundered separately. Shirt, embroidered with an earl's coronet Britain, about 1830 Linen and cotton V&A: T.97-1963 Given by the Earl and Countess of Harrowby(16/04/2016-12/03/2017)
Credit line
Given by the Earl and Countess of Harrowby
Object history
Registered File number 1963/1313
Summary
This dress shirt is made of linen, with a high collar and detachable muslin frills at the cuffs and front opening. The ruffles at the front are known as a jabot, and flare out over the opening of the fastened waistcoat. The collar was worn up and tied around with a neck tie.

A well-dressed gentleman wore at least two clean shirts every day, one for day and one for evening wear. This shirt is embroidered with a coronet to show that it was owned by a member of the nobility.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.97-1963

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O364851/shirt-unknown/
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