Underpants thumbnail 1
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Underpants

1890s (made)
Artist/Maker
Mühlenkamp Brothers (retailer)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

White, pink and blue striped machine knitted cotton underpants with a white cotton shaped waistband; fastening with mother-of-pearl buttons; the underpants have the initials 'MB' knitted into the right back.

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Object details

Categories
Textiles
Clothing
Underwear
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Underpants
Materials and techniques
Cotton; mother of pearl; machine knitted
Cotton (Textile)
Mother of Pearl
Machine Knitted
Brief description
Striped cotton knitted underpants made for Mühlenkampf Brothers Ltd., London, 1890s
Physical description
White, pink and blue striped machine knitted cotton underpants with a white cotton shaped waistband; fastening with mother-of-pearl buttons; the underpants have the initials 'MB' knitted into the right back.
Dimensions
  • Waist measured inside garment circumference: 83-88cm (depending on button setting on back waist) (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Outside leg length: 79cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Outside leg length: 51cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Crotch depth (front waist to back waist through crotch) measured inside garment length: 42cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Hem circumference: 33cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
Gallery label
(16/04/2016-12/03/2017)
Hidden colour

Coloured underwear for men was introduced in the late 19th century. These underpants are a rare surviving example.

The initials 'M B', which are knitted into the right back, indicate that they were made for Muhlenkampf Brothers Ltd. The company traded as shirt makers, hosiers and outfitters at 12, New Bond Street in London.

Underpants
Muhlenkampf Brothers Ltd.
Britain, London, 1890s
Cotton
V&A: T.346-1980
Given by John L. Nevinson
Credit line
Given by John L. Nevinson
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.346-1980

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O366167/underpants/
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