Reading various posts makes me more confident that this suggestion might be helpful: try looking at the illustrations to Charles Dickens' novels. David Copperfield is, if I recall correctly, 1850, but much of it is set earlier, in David's boyhood and adolescence, making the "period" of the illustrations 1820-1840. Several other novels AND The Pickwick Papers are earlier. The illustrations, mostly by Phiz, are wonderful, and show characters of many classes and callings. I'd bet there's a lady's maid or a housemaid, or both, in there somewhere. Sorry don't have online sources, but any library would have the books. And speaking of books, is London Labour and the London Poor too early? I associate it with Dickens' time but might be wrong. --Ruth Anne Baumgartner scholar gypsy and amateur costumer
On May 26, 2008, at 1:01 PM, Serena Dyer wrote: > Does anyone know of any quotes or pictorial sources for what house > maids or a ladies' maid would be wearing in the 1830s-40s? I have > been asked to make servants' dress of this date for historical > interpretation, and am trying to find a source to replicate which > will challenge the black gown/white apron look, which our visitors > seem to associate with them. > > Thanks > > Serena Dyer > http://www.pemberleydesigns.co.uk > http://www.dressing-history.co.uk > _______________________________________________ > h-costume mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
