Sleeve puffs! So very rare!
Well, if you don't know anything about sleeve puffs, this is the time when you will finally KNOW that I am completely obsessed with costume! They are simple and tough, undyed cotton calico. They are certainly not pretty. They have been 'well used' by the lady who owned them in circa 1830, and they are the first I have ever examined. I am beyond thrilled to have examined them! [But they are not easy to photograph!] C1830 sleeve puffs held at the V & A Museum: collections.vam.a
Extraordinary Georgian finds from an extensive embroidery collection
A recent sale saw a large and magnificent collection being on offer, some of the items reaching £4000.00 and more. They all came from a private collection, and although I know little about the one's I have for sale, I completely trust the descriptions provided. I just know that I love them! The collection seems to be largely sought from Northern Europe and at least one of my items is German. Others may originate from Holland. More research is needed here. The most rare, is a
Quilting techniques for clothing in the 18th Century
Before I introduce my second quilted infant cap to you, I thought it might be fun to use some of the items I have sold in the past, to give you a brief outline of the types of quilting used for clothing in the 18th Century. Some are quite confusing! If you want to have a most interesting, thorough explanation, I highly recommend '18th Century Embroidery Techniques' by Gail Marsh. [see Links & Research for full reference]. I have learnt so much from this book! The delicious j
Dating an 18th Century cord quilted infant cap through Pears!
Some remarkable coincidences can occur when searching for rare and early textiles. Such an event happened to me recently, when through two completely different auctions I found glorious 18th Century garments with an embroidery motif I had never seen before. So rare, and both in my possession! Unbelievable! The first was a single engageante [sleeve ruffle], decorated with fine whitework and Dresden work. Absolutely beautiful, I placed it onto my Ebay shop and it was sold befor
18th Century baby stays - rare and so cruel
This oh so tiny undergarment might be viewed as a doll item, but it is not. It is for a baby, one year old or less - so cruel! Linda Baumgarten, in her book 'What Clothes Reveal' [See Links and Research for full reference], shows us a small number of baby stays, two of them being almost exactly the same size as this one. One she describes is just 14.5" at the chest and 13.5" at the waist! [Page163/2011] She tells us that infants were placed into stays from the age of three m
