55/122

This Kent smock was worn by a member of the donor's family on Pinden Farm in Fawkham Green, Kent, and a label in the back dates it to 1897. It is a reversible smock made of natural coloured linen and stitched with natural coloured and blue thread. It is embroidered with top stitch and running stitch, and has numerous buttons, including pearl buttons and brass buttons with an anchor motif.

1 smock: natural coloured linen and thread; 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. // 55/122 was acquired by the collector from a farm at Fawkham, Kent and thought to have been made in the late 1890s. The neatly worked smocking is mainly of honeycomb and there is no additional embroidery. Garment construction techniques used on this linen smock indicate that this was originally a well-made garment. The reversible smock has no pockets but has side seam openings to allow access to undergarments.' p.8, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'Underneath the collar of this smock there is a piece of tape bearing the words: Skilbeck (name of donor) Pinden, Fawkham, Kent 1897 (Pinden is pinden Farm) // It is made of natural coloured linen, embroidered with natural coloured and blue thread, which has run and stained some of the smock blue. It is reversible and is buttoned at the neck with two brass buttons ornamented with anchors and ropes. The tubing measures 5.5 inches across and 8 inches in length. There are no boxes and the shoulder straps and collar are plain except for a double line of running stitches. The sleeves are smocked at the top and the bottom and fastened with two buttons. // The smock measures 42.5 inches in length and 71 inches round the hem. // See also 51/258', MERL ‘Temporary Catalogue’ form – 'Sheet 1 of 3 //Identification // Class. PERSONAL Clothing garment // Description: Condition: small [rust] marks, blue marks where colour has 'run' from the thread // Completeness: 3 buttons missing (1back 1 front, 1 cuff) // Dimensions: total length; 110 cm // collar depth; 17cm // cuffs depth; 7cm // pocket/slits length; 19cm // Notes (continued overleaf): Description: handsewn; style: round frock, 2 buttons at neck back and front (2 missing), brass buttons with anchor motif; shoulders: separate rectangular pieces sewn across each shoulder; collar: 2 straight pieces; cuffs: straight bands, 1 button on each and 1 on each sleeve above cuff, [page break] 1 brass and 2 pearl buttons (1 missing); // pockets: slits in side seams; // tubing: outline, cable and points; // back and front – 36 rows, // one side blue with a half line natural thread, one side natural thread; // sleeves – top, 14 rows, natural, above cuff, 15 rows, 1 natural, 1 natural with 5 blue rows; // embroidery: collar – 2 rows top stitching on outer edges // shoulder – 5 horizontal rows of top stitching. // Sheet 2 of 3 // Condition: small holes in fabric, darns. // Dimensions: tubing, back and front; 19 x 13cm // tubing sleeves, top [...]; 9 x 5cm // tubing sleeves, above cuffs; 9 x 9cm // Sheet 3 of 3 // hem circumference; 177.5cm', MERL ‘Associated information’ form – ‘Personal - clothing // Description of use to which it was put […] [pencil sketch][page break] Collected by C.O. Skilbeck Esq of [...]Bledlow [...] Aylesbury // Is it in good condition? Yes’, Photographic prints - [text on paper sleeve] 'Acc. No. 55/122 // Neg. No. 60/1127'

1887-01-01 - 1897-12-31

Late-nineteenth century

Fibre, flax, Brass, Fibre

Stitched, Embroidered, Smocked

(Maker)