Tell Me About This...

[Iron Scout]

Hey Folks,

I picked this item up in Ft. Meyers, Fl. this week. It appears to me to be a small child's (male/female?) bodice/blouse made of very finely woven plaid silk. It also exhibits 100% handsewing with polished cotton lining. Nice set of civilian buttons too (16).

My daughter (4 yr old/40lbs) tried it on for size and it just fit. Any thoughts on timeperiod, male female, etc.? I really like the piece; couldn't beat the $40 pricetag either.

Regards,

Neill Rose
PLHA

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Tell Me About This...

It's more likely a boy's bodice than girl's... the buttons in the waistband are meant to be fastened through buttonholes on a pair of trousers, which was a lovely style for little boys just into trousers (long or short, depending on weather.) These trousers might have matched the bodice (fairly typical with solid wools in particular), or might have been made in a contrasting fabric (such as a pair of black wool trousers to wear with this bodice.)

The detail of buttonholed scallops on the short sleeve is lovely; a very little boy's undershirt sleeve might peek out a tad there.

The close spacing of numerous buttons is VERY typical. One thing some reproduced items do poorly is get this aesthetic detail correct--better to have lots and lots of closely-spaced buttons, that 3 far-spaced ones!

Lovely find, and it looks to be in very good shape, too. Is there a particular fabric characteristic that points your opinion toward silk? Some very good wools do a good job masquerading as a robust "silk" weave. It would not be atypical for a middle classes or better child to wear silk, but the same bodice style in wool would be appropriate for little boys down into the working classes.