Description:
Woman's patchwork pocket, the front of which is made from triangular pieces of printed cotton and a few fragments of cotton woven with a silk warp arranged in square formations. 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. There are about 28 different printed fabrics that make up the fabric, many in shades of red, brown/black, green and cream. The front of the pocket has a center slit at the top for access to the inside. The slit is edged with a printed cotton found in the front patchwork (the brown plaid). The front is backed with a plain weave, bleached linen; the back of the pocket is a matching linen. The pocket is edged all around with the different printed cottons that are found on the front patchwork. The ties appar to be original, which when fully extended, have a width of 27 3/8." The thread used to stitch the linen is a white/off-white linen or cotton. There is some discoloration on the back.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2000.20.5 |
