53/369

This reversible smock is made of white linen, embroidered with thick white thread. The embroidered boxes contain a cartwheel, four scrolls with long ends which are probably intended to represent whip lashes, and various short straight lines, and loops, which represent bits. The design of the boxes probably indicates that the smock was intended for a carter. The smock is part of the Titus Barham collection but nothing is known about its origin.

1 smock: white linen; thick white thread; good condition

Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] – 'This reversible linen smock is part of the Titus Barham collection of rural objects and prints, but its origins are unknown. The design of the embroidery at the side of the smocked panels includes wheels and scrolls indicating possible wear by a carter. The collar is bordered with rows of featherstitch. There are no pockets. Unusually the smock has long centre hemline slits as well as side seam slits. // Titus Barham was the son of the founder of The Express Dairy Company, a dairy products and milk distribution business, and Chairman of the company from 1913 until 1937. He collected a large number of agriculture and dairying related objects, domestic cooking and cleaning utensilsand country sports equipment. Prints and photographs with rural themes also featured in his collection. The collection of objects 53/204-53/399 was donated to the Centre in 1953.' p.7, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'SMOCK // DATE ACQUIRED: June, 1953 // GROUP: PERSONAL clothing garment // NEGATIVE: 60/1173 60/1176 // PERIOD: Unknown // PLACE OF ORIGIN: The Titus Barham Collection // NUMBER: 53/369T // DESCRIPTION: Nothing is known of the origin of this smock. // It is made of white linen, embroidered with thick white thread, and is reversible. The tubing at the front and back is 10 inches broad and 10 inches long. The boxes contain a cartwheel, four scrolls with long ends which are probably intended to represent whip lashes, and various short straight lines, and loops, which represent bits. The shoulder straps have a simple line of treble feather stitch. The collar has a wavy lines along its length, with short lines set in the curves alternately and a straight line of either side. On the inside there is a line of treble feather stitch. There is a band of smocking above the cuff and the cuff itself is embroidered with a single line of treble feather stitch. // The design of the boxes probably indicates that the smock was intended for a carter. // It is 37.25 inches from shoulder to hem. The hem is slit at each side seam for 5 inches and there are slits in the middle of the front and the back, 11 inches in length. There are two bone buttons on each cuff. // See also 51/258M. // Col. SLIDE No. 4703‘, MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) – ‘Sheet 1 of 3 // No. 53/369T // further descr. [tick] notes // Material: white linen, white thread, bone buttons // Description: Condition: gathers split on sleeves // date: Apr. 1973 // Dimensions: total length: 97 cm, collar depth: 14 cm, cuffs depth: 5 cm // Interest: origin no information // Repr. Cur. pho.: 60/1176 60/1173 // Acquisition: Source: Titus Barham Collection // Method: gift // date: June 1953 //Notes (continued overleaf): Description: handsewn. style: round frock, central slits back and front, smaller slits at hem edge side seams, collar: two straight pieces, cuff: straight band, one button on each cuff, one button on each sleeve above cuff. pockets: none, buttons: 4, bone PTO // Cataloguing Cataloguer: LCB // of: MERL // date: 12.3.73 [verso:] embroidery: boxes; feather stitch, cartwheel and scrolls, short straight lines and loops, collar, feather stitch, lines, cuffs; feather stitch, three lines, shoulders; feather stitch, three lines // tubing: outline, cable and points, back and front - 32 rows, sleeves above cuff - 6 rows [page break] Sheet 2 of 3 // Dimensions: tubing, back and front: 25 x 21 cm, tubing, cuffs: 10x10 cm, slits, front and back: 29 cm [page break] Sheet 3 of 3 // Dimensions: side slits length: 12.5 cm, hem circumference: 18.4 cm‘

Fibre, flax, Bone

Stitched, Embroidered, Smocked