At 18:22 31/05/2008, you wrote: >I would think that a nurse would probably have worn something to identify >her profession from a maid or servant. What about the BBC series >"upstairs/downstairs" (this might be to late) or did they have the sterio >type uniforms? There should be several BBC series that show maids in >uniforms. > >-----Original Message----- >It's not quite 1840s but here's a fashion plate from 1852 showing a nurse >http://www.marquise.de/en/1800/pics/1852_4.shtml (presumably a nurse would >wear similar clothes to a maid) I think a dark coloured wool in a somewhat >conservative cut (nobody likes their servants dressing above their station) >would be the most sensible style for somebody who is doing potentially messy >work (unless it was so messy you would want a cotton wash dress) a cap was a >badge of servitude for many years after other women had abandoned them (even >into the early 20th century you see maids and waitresses in restaurants >wearing some sort of remnant of a cap on their heads). Clean, starched, >white aprons were also important for female servants when they were 'on >display' in a sense (e.g. when answering the door or serving visitors) as >another badge of servitude it showed their status and that they hadn't been >doing any messy work (or at least not recently). >I know this is later than your period, but Isabella Beeton's book of >household management outlines the duties of various servants and sometimes >includes references to clothing >http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/b/beeton/isabella/household/chapter41.h >tml >You may also find images of servants in the background in some royal >portraits >http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/eGallery/category.asp?category=AAPICTURES&; >row=0 >HTH >Elizabeth
The fashion plate is not actually of a nurse, but a nursemaid, and as such is not the same as a household servant. She ranks alongside a lady's maid, and although she is wearing dark clothing, was not expected to wear uniform. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Occupational-Costume-England-Eleventh-Century/dp/B00166AA20/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212255187&sr=1-8 This should have the information you require. Suzi _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
