Dede,
If by "the closure side" you mean the neck button side of the garment,
it seems reasonable that the marking would be on the same side (the
back and not the front). Back closing garments were not that uncommon,
though many shifts did indeed close in front.
Even if the marking were on the front, ladies' shifts were never
intended to be viewed by anybody, so who would care where a laundry
mark was placed?
The stain may be indicative of use, as you surmise. I'm guessing it's
a blood stain? However, if the lady had slaughtered a chicken she may
have gotten blood on the front of her dress and underpinnings (just a
thought here!), so you'd have to identify the source of the stain to
assume back vs front.
Are the front pattern pieces higher in the back than the front? I'd
look for that: more allowance for back pieces to be worn a little
higher. That would be a construction detail you may have missed while
folding.
It will be interesting to see what you come up with. Any photos which
could be posted to the library? (or does indra have a library?)
== Marjorie Wilser
=:=:=:Three Toad Press:=:=:=
"Learn to laugh at yourself and you will never lack for amusement." --MW
http://3toad.blogspot.com/
On Aug 10, 2011, at 9:56 AM, WorkroomButtons.com wrote:
I volunteer at our local historical site, which houses (among other
things) a vast collection of 19th century underwear. Today we
cleaned and packed a stack of circa 1845 ladies' shifts, all with a
single button closure at the neck.
The shifts were all marked with a stamped (not embroidered) monogram
to facilitate laundry sorting, and always on the closure side of the
shift. The monogram was never meant to be decorative.
We worked under the assumption that these shifts were worn with the
closure on the front, but then I had an epiphany...
1. One of the shifts had a stain of the sort that is commonly found
on the back of ladies' underwear. On the closure side.
2. Why would a marking (stamped monogram) meant only to label a
garment be put on the front? Wouldn't it be put on the back? --
they were all on the closure side.
I am now tasked with finding the answer. Any thoughts?
-Dede O'Hair
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