55/120

This Buckinghamshire smock is said to be a funeral smock, worn only for that purpose. It was collected by the donor's husband, and belonged to Mr Samuel Ludlow of Bledlow, Buckinghamshire. It is made of heavy white linen with smocking on the front, back and sleeves. It is embroidered with feather stitch in a design of boxes with oval shapes filled with branching stems and diagonal lines.

1 smock: heavy white linen; good condition

Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] – 'The widow of a collector donated these smocks to the collection in 1955. Correspondence shows that the seven smocks were sent by rail from Oxford Station 'packed in a Gladstone bag with good leather straps but no key', and that the donor did not want the leather bag returned, as it was no great offering being fifty years old. // 55/120 is said to originate from Bledlow, Buckinghamshire and the donor believed the linen smock to have been worn only for funerals, which could explain the good condition of the garment. The smocked and embroidered areas are stitched to a high standard. The design of the embroidery on the panels and collar includes pointed ovals enclosing 'branch' motifs and zigzags. The decorated cuffs fasten with one button and the sleeve opening with two, the buttons are of the four-hole metal type. There are no pockets on this reversible smock.' p.8, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This smock belonged to Mr. Samuel Ludlow of Bledlow, Buckinghamshire. // It is made of heavy white linen, and is reversible, with smocking on the front and back. It is said to be a funeral smock, used only for that purpose. // The tubing at the front and back is 8 inches broad and 11 inches long. Lines of single feather stitch divide the tubing from the boxes, which contain a design of oval shapes filled in with branching stems and diagonal lines which fill the spaces. // The design also occurs on the shoulder straps and collar. The sleeve is smocked above the cuff and there is feather stitching on the cuff. // The smock measures 42 inches in length from shoulder to hem and 75 inches round the hem. // See also accession 51/258M', MERL ‘Temporary Catalogue’ form – 'Sheet 1 of 2 // Identification: Class. PERSONAL clothing garment // Description: Condition: good; date: 1972 // Material(s): white linen, white thread, metal buttons // Dimensions: total length; 105cm // collar depth; 13cm // cuffs depth; 4cm // hem circumference; 188cm // Acquisition // Method: gift // Notes (continued overleaf): Description: handsewn // Style: round smock; collar: two straight pieces // Cuffs: straight bands, metal button on each cuff, 2 on each sleeve above cuff [page break] no pockets // tubing: cable points, outline // back and front – 49 rows // sleeves, top – 5 rows, above cuff – 15 rows // finely spaced gathers // embroidery: feather stitch // boxes – oval shapes filled in with branching stems and diagonal lines // collar and shoulders – similar pattern // cuffs – lines of feather stitching // History: said to be kept for funerals [Mrs. Skilbeck] // Sheet 2 of 2 // Dimensions: tubing, back and front; 20 x 28cm, MERL ‘Associated information’ form – ‘Description of use to which it was put[…] // Made of white heavy linen // Smocked back + front the same. // On the back of each cuff there are three buttons (brass coloured) [pencil sketch] // Called by Mrs Skilbeck a Funeral Smock [page break] Name and address of present owner // Collected by C.O. Skilbeck Esq of [...]Bledlow [...] Aylesbury // Is it in good condition? // yes', Photographic prints - [text on paper sleeve] 'Acc. No. 55/120 // Neg. nos. 60/1123 // Also - on N/C - 60/1187 // 1188'

Fibre, flax, Metal, Fibre

Stitched, Embroidered, Smocked