68/267

Possibly used by depositor's family at Spencers Wood, Berkshire or Stoke Row, Oxfordshire. This is a reversible smock made from white linen and thread. It is hand sewn. There is smocking on the chest at front and back, and on the sleeves at the top and above the cuff. There is embroidery on the chest at front and back, and on the collar, yoke, and cuffs.

1 reversible smock: white linen and thread; pearl; metal; fair condition

Citation in publication [Oliver, Tina, 'Smocks: A Guide to the Collections' (Reading: The University of Reading, 2000)] – ‘Nothing is known of this lightweight linen smock other than it could be of Berkshire or Oxfordshire origin. The construction of the reversible garment is not to a good standard, there are no pockets. The smocking it loose, the embroidery design on the panels includes diamonds and leaf shapes. Open scrolls and zigzags are worked on the collar, zigzags on the yoke. The condition of the body sections id reasonable, but the lower sections of the sleeves and cuffs are very badly work with edges completely frayed.’ (pp.24), MERL Catalogue Form (temporary) - 'Sheet 1 of 2 // Object name: Smock // Class.: PERSONAL clothing garment // Description: Condition; Sleeves at cuff, worn, mended, ragged edges // Completeness; 1 cuff button missing // Date; 1969 // Material(s); white linen, white thread, pearl and metal buttons // Dimensions: Total length; 106cm // Collar depth; 28cm // Cuffs depth; 4cm // Hem circumference; 196cm // Origin; possibly Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Spencers Wood/Stoke Row // Acquisition Source; J. Naish [...] Bedford // Method; gift // Date; 1962 // Description: handsewn, Style: round frock, slits in side seams, collar: two straight pieces, cuffs: straight bands, one has one metal button, the other one metal and one pearl button. // [page break] tubing: cable, outline and points, // back and front, 32 rows, // sleeves, tops – 2 rows, above cuffs – 6 rows; // embroidery: single and double feather stitch, boxes, triangles with ovals with border of lines and ovals, // collar: lines and scrolls, // shoulders: 5 wavy lines // outlining of gathering: rows of feather stitch // History: Possibly used by donor’s family at Spencers Wood or Stoke Row [donor] // (N.B. previously accessioned as 62/292. Cat.) // Sheet 2 of 2 // Dimensions: Tubing back and front; 25 x 21cm // Tubing, sleeve tops; 5 x 3cm // Tubing, sleeve cuffs; 10 x 9cm', MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'Smock // 68/267 // Neg. 60/9143 // PERSONAL - clothing garmentS // ? found in Accessions room // 1968 // [pencil sketch with annotations]', Photographic prints – 'Acc. No. // 68/267 // Neg. Nos. // 60/9143'

Fibre, flax, Fibre, Metal, Pearl

Stitched, Smocked, Embroidered