Textiles and Stuff 

This is a beautiful example of an 18th Century baby’s bonnet. It is made of very fine linen and has a double layer of material at the brim. The crown is gathered at the back into a circle with the two sides meeting vertically below this with an insert of fine bobbin lace of a Valenciennes type. There is a draw string present in the outer seam of the bonnet, running from the back round the brim,and the two ends of this are visible at the centre back. The bonnet measures 5 inches from front to back laid flat and 6 inches high. The whole bonnet is of course worked by hand in the tiniest of stitches and is in excellent condition. This is a lovely little bonnet, very typical of its period, quite rare, which would make a good example for a collection.

This is a small antique boy’s coat in cream corduroy, dating from the beginning of the 20th Century. It has a collar of white ermine and is flared from the armholes. It fastens to the side with small hooks and large mother of pearl type buttons fastening with buttonholes. The sleeves have 2 small buttons on the outer edge. It bears the label of Harvey Nicholls, a very famous London retailer. The chest measurement is 27 ins/68 cms. and the length from shoulder to hem is 21 1/2 ins/55 cms. The outside length of the sleeves is 12 ins/30 cms. The only faults I can find are some wear on the fur collar at the back and some faint brown marks on the cuff of the right sleeve, and a faint mark on the lining, which can be seen on the photographs. The coat is in excellent condition and suitable for wearing or display.

This is a beautiful example of a baby’s dress dating from the early 19th century which is made of fine cotton and completely handworked. It has the usual wide and slightly square neckline, usual for the period, and short double frilled short sleeves. The robings start on the bodice and then are taken down to the waist, and then down both sides of the skirt front, increasing in width gradually as they reach the bottom hem. The robings are decorated with a very finely worked border of broderie anglaise. There is a matching frill of robing round the back neck. The bodice is embroidered with horizontal strips which consist of two very fine couched cords and in between them a row of feather stitching and these cords enclose sections of ruched fabric, measuring only 3/8 inch wide. The waist band is decorated with minute embroidered dots. The lower skirt is decorated with two rows of pin tucking and finished with a broad hem. The dress fastens at the back with narrow tapes at the neck and at the waist to adjust the size, and two hand made Dorset buttons. Measurements chest 18 inches (45.7 cms.) and length from shoulder to hem is 44 inches (117 cms.). There are several small slits in the frills on the robings and round the back of the neck. These can be seen in the photos. There is also a very small hole in the bodice at the back near the buttonhole, a small area of repair near the lower button, and a small brown mark on the robing at the front at the waist. Apart from these, considering its age, the dress is in very good condition and the overall appearance is excellent, an woonderful example for wearing for a Christening or display in a collection.

This is a small black bonnet dating from the 1880s. The brim is made of fine straw folded over and the crown of buckram, covered with black satin with small swathes of georgette round the edge with a simple rosette effect at the back. The brim is trimmed at the front with an ostrich feather. The bonnet fastens under the chin with broad ties of silk satin. This bonnet is in good wearable condition and would be suitable for a costume event or display.

This is an exquisite baby’s dress made of very fine cotton with the bodice decorated with white embroidery and fine bobbin lace which also trims the sleeves. The skirt has robings or long strips of finely worked broderie anglaise of an indented shape running from waist to hem and this is echoed in the hem of the dress. The measurements are as follows chest 17 inches, sleeve length from shoulder to cuff 8 1/2 inches, length from shoulder to hem 26 inches. The dress fastens at the back with two tiny mother of pearl buttons. There is a small laundry mark embroidered in red cotton on the back opening which can be removed if desired, although it is part of the dress’s history! The dress is in excellent condition and the only flaws I can find are some tiny holes in one area of the robing near the bottom of the skirt and a few very small repairs, one to the robing and several others in the border of the skirt. They are all very small and hardly noticeable. This is a beautiful little dress for a young baby and would be suitable for a christening or a special family occasion.

This is a lovely baby’s dress dating from the 1860/70s, hand made of a fine cotton fabric. the bodice is decorated with the traditional strips of narrow machine embroidered fabric and five rows of tiny tucks. This theme is continued in the skirt, which has panels of hand embroidered broderie anglaise and four rows of pin tucks running horizontally across the front panel for the full length of the skirt from the waistline to the hem, which is also trimmed with the same broderie anglaise. The robings also in matching broderie anglaise run right from the centre back of the bodice to the lower hem of the front. The sleeves are short and match the robings. The chest measurement is approximately 18 inches and the overall length from shoulder to hem is 44 inches. The dress fastens at the back with tapes which can be used to gather the waist and neck to adjust the size and there are also two tiny linen buttons to secure the back opening. The dress is in very good condition but there is one small repair on the robing and also an small area of weakness at the hem which can be seen in the photograph. This is a lovely hand made dress, typical of the period and one to treasure for a Christening or that special occasion!

This is a lovely little baby’s bonnet dating from the early 19th Century, entirely handmade in cotton net, needle run in silk. The design features diamonds and triangles and rather geometric designs. It dates from the early 19th Century and has the traditional five channels holding cords to adjust the size and a drawstring at the back of the neck. It also has cotton ties to fasten under the chin, which are I think are a later addition. The bonnet is gathered on to the crown which is oval and also has embroidered diamonds and a scalloped frill round it. It measures just over 12 inches round the brim and the neck edge measures 10 inches. It is a dainty bonnet and in fairly good condition, considering its dainty construction, although there are several small holes in the net near the brim,and towards the crown. It is an interesting and unusual example of its type.

VICTORIAN BABY'S CARRYING CAPE IN FINE WOOL This is a delightful cape for a baby, probably for a christening, in a very fine cream wool fabric. It has a shoulder cape and collar attached and is fully lined. It is decorated with a design of flowers and leaves in silk chain stitch with silk appliqué centres to the flowers and leaves . It has been fastened with corded ribbon ties, but may have had a tape round the neck in a casing at one time. The edges of the collar, shoulder cape and main garment are trimmed with silk braid of the same shade. This is a beautiful period garment, very typical of its time. The fabric is in excellent condition and it could be worn or displayed to advantage.

This is a beautiful example of an early 19th Century baby’s bonnet, probably dating from the 1830s. It is made of very fine cotton and has a frill round the back of the neck and a treble frill round the brim, both with a very fine narrow hem. The crown has four channels for drawstrings to adjust the fit, all of which are still visible. There is also a drawstring at the back of the neck. The bonnet also has ties of cotton fabric which may be later. The crown is gathered on to a circular piece of white-work embroidery, with a tiny flowers and a larger one in the centre, the centres of which are executed in very fine needlepoint. The whole bonnet is worked by hand. The only damage I can find is a small brown stain on the frill near the fastening, which can be seen in the photograph and a tiny slit in the frill just beside it. Apart from this the bonnet is in excellent condition. This is a lovely little bonnet, very typical of its period, with the fastenings at the top of the crown and would make a good example for a collection.

EIGHTEENTH CENTURY BABY'S COTTON VEST This is a lovely and fairly rare example of an eighteenth century baby’s vest in very fine soft cotton. It is made in the traditional way, with square cut sleeves with a diamond shaped gusset at the underarm. The sleeves are slightly gathered at the shoulder. The neck edge is decorated with very fine Valenciennes lace, in a swirling design. The chest measurement is 17 3/4 inches and the length from the top of the shoulder to the hem is 11 inches. There are a few small brown marks on the garment, the principal one being at the top of the sleeve, and this can be seen in the photograph. There are also some areas of damage in the lace the edge is slightly frayed in some areas and the lace has become detached from the neckedge just at the shoulder seam area on one side. There is also a small slit in the lace in the left front neck area. There are two small holes in the fabric, one at the bottom of the right front and the other a small slit in the chest area of the left front. I have not washed the vest which is cream in colour, or attempted to restore it in any way. This is a good example of a vest of the period and the amount of damage slight in consideration of its age.