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Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level H , Case 95, Shelf C, Box 101

Embroidery Design

ca. 1836-1854 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Design for embroidered slippers for ladies by Sarah Bland (1810-1905) about 1836-1854. The design is annotated 'Smaller sized Ladies' Slipper Pattern'. This design was probably traced from a commercially available pattern from a magazine such as The Lady's Newspaper. This design is in an album which includes Bland's collection of her own botanically accurate designs, simplified patterns from accurate botanical observation, patterns traced from magazines, commercial, printed Berlin wool work patterns, gifts of patterns, including commercial ones from friends and relatives. The designs include those for petit-point, bead-work, decoration for dresses, collars and cuffs, aprons, slippers, tablecloths and covers, cushions, bags, penwipers, initial letters, alphabets etc. In Bland's case, the gift of designs demonstrates connections between relatives of merchant and banking families and is of historical significance in bonding such families. Bland probably embroidered slippers as gifts for female members of her family and for friends.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink on tracing paper
Brief description
Design for embroidered slippers for ladies, ca. 1836-1854, by Sarah Bland (1810-1905).
Physical description
Design in pen and ink on tracing paper for embroidered ladies slippers.
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.8cm
  • Width: 25.6cm
Production typeDesign
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Smaller sized Ladies / Slipper Pattern .' (Inscribed in ink near the bottom left hand corner of the page.)
  • ' End of each side. ' (Inscribed in ink near the top edge, at the right hand side of the page, within the design.)
Credit line
Given by Mrs D. McGregor
Object history
Historical significance: Within the study of embroidery, men tend to be recorded as professional embroiderers or pattern drawers, whereas women worked more ambiguously with designs for embroidery. Women's amateur as opposed to professional designs for embroidery raise problems because amateur work has tended to be regarded as less significant. Embroidery was a pastime but was also an economic activity. Upper middle class women's property was closely linked to their status within the family as daughters, wives and widows and only allowed semi-independence. This semi-independence was underpinned by legal, political, and social practices which subordinated them. Nevertheless, it was combined with recognition of their economic worth within the family enterprise. However, women were restricted as they often could not be openly involved in working for money. See L. Davidoff and C. Hall (Reference Tab). Bland could not be seen to be working but it is likely that she embroidered accessories for dress, penwipers, tablecloths, book covers, and cushions as gifts which were her contribution to the household, wider family, and friendship. The quality of her samplers and designs shows the value of such gifts in terms of relationships with family and friends.

Material about the perceptions of a woman's role is pertinent to the discourse on women and therefore gender history. In Bland's case, the gift of designs demonstrates connections between relatives of merchant and banking families and is of historical significance in bonding between such families.
Historical context
Sarah Bland (1810-1905) was listed as a 'gentlewoman' in the 1851 census return and is not recorded as having any occupation in the census returns for 1871 and 1901 which is consistent with her social status.
Production
There are three samplers by Sarah Bland in the collection of the Textiles and Fashion Department: T.238-1967; T.239-1967 and T.240-1967.
Subject depicted
Summary
Design for embroidered slippers for ladies by Sarah Bland (1810-1905) about 1836-1854. The design is annotated 'Smaller sized Ladies' Slipper Pattern'. This design was probably traced from a commercially available pattern from a magazine such as The Lady's Newspaper. This design is in an album which includes Bland's collection of her own botanically accurate designs, simplified patterns from accurate botanical observation, patterns traced from magazines, commercial, printed Berlin wool work patterns, gifts of patterns, including commercial ones from friends and relatives. The designs include those for petit-point, bead-work, decoration for dresses, collars and cuffs, aprons, slippers, tablecloths and covers, cushions, bags, penwipers, initial letters, alphabets etc. In Bland's case, the gift of designs demonstrates connections between relatives of merchant and banking families and is of historical significance in bonding such families. Bland probably embroidered slippers as gifts for female members of her family and for friends.
Bibliographic reference
Davidoff, L. and Hall, C. Family Fortunes, Men, Women of the English Middle Class 1780-1850. Revised edition. London: Routledge, 2002, p.387.
Collection
Accession number
E.372:171-1967

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Record createdJune 8, 2009
Record URL
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