Description:
Woman's pocket of crewel embroidery done in two shades of blue (or one that has faded in places), light brown, and yellow on a linen ground, which has a Deerfield provenance. Before the late 19th century, pockets were not built into women's clothing in any regular way. Often initialed, a woman’s pocket or workbag was an extension of her self-worth, pride, and fine skill with a needle even though it was usually out of sight. Pockets were worn over the shift (the basic linen undergarment) and under the petticoat, tied around the waist and accessible through specially positioned slits in the petticoat. Pockets could contain such items as small personal items, sewing work-in-progress, scissors, pin-cushion, and small publications. The design is a meandering vine on each side of the front piece, from which flowers extend, and floral design on the bottom center front with two small birds found on the center design, and one on each vine. The types of stitches include stem stitch and a solid filling stitch (slanting satin stitch?). The lighter shade of blue could be the remains of a green (blue overdyed onto yellow and the yellow, having faded, left the blue)? The front of the pocket is backed with a plain weave, bleached or half bleached linen, which is the same fabric that makes up the back of the pocket. The edging, as well as the edging of the slit in front, consists of two types of printed cottons in either tan and off-white or pink and brown/black (also see HD 2000.18.9). The linen is pieced on the proper left lower edge. The ties may not be original. Fair condition. A hole at the CB of backing, numerous missing crewel yarns (insect damage?), and shredded edging (especially on proper left edge) are some of the problems.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2000.18.8 |
