Description:
Boy's blue-and-white checked homespun cotton suit that had a note in the pocket reading "Found in Lakeville, CT." In the latter half of the 18th century, changing attitudes towards children and their upbringing resulted in a corressponding change in their clothing. No longer viewed as miniature adults, young boys and girls were acknowledged as separate individuals with their own needs. Found in Salisbury, Connecitcut, this boy's suit reflects the more inofrmal style of children's dress characteristics around 1800. Plain and simply patterned textiles were produced thoughout New England in this period and were staples of domestic clothing consumption. The double-brested coat is similar to an adult man's and contains a deep interior pocket on the right of the tails - the perfect carrying place. The arms are set well back on the coat - posture was considered an important part of a child's upbringing. The easy-fitting trousers were adopted from working men's wardrobes and allowed for greater freedom of movement than restrictive knee breeches. The trousers have a 'drop front' held in place with flat brass buttons to maintain the smooth line of the front. The use of homespun cotton, a durable and washable fabric, also attests to the suit's practicality for a young wearer. The boy would have also worn a white cotton or linen shirt witha soft ruffled collar - in marked contrast to the high, stuffy starched collar bound with a cravat seen on men's shirts.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2005.4 |
