Very rare working men's outift for Lower Rank Boat Crew. Despite some reseach (please talk to me about this and I can send all my findings) I have not found out the occasion when these outfits were worn. My feeling is they were worn for a pageant. Clearly the wearers ended up in the Thames because the clothing is very muddy. Let's hope they did not get dystentry! Bought from the Watermen & Lightermen's Company. I have already sold two outfits to major museums.
I have soaked, just in water, a couple of the pieces and a lot of the mud has lifted. The rest are in thier original state. So various states of staining, but all basically quite sound. Lots more photos available.
Jacket: The short jacket in roller printed pale blue and white striped cotton with narrow shawl collar, edged with narrow pink wool braid down the front and along the hem, double breasted with six self covered buttons and six bone (replacement), long sleeves, the cuffs each with two smaller self covered buttons and similar wool braid, flat pockets edged with same braid, lined with natural cotton, all hand sewn.
Chest 38 in; 97 cm.
Nape 20 in; 50 cm.
Shirt: Of roller printed blue and white cotton, typical T shape with squarish deep collar with two small buttons, the back slightly curved, the front opening with a further three mother of pearl buttons and buttonholes, above tight gathering, gathered dropped shoulders with underarm insets (for movement), the deep cuffs with a single mother of pearl button, lower side slits with inset panel, the back slightly longer than the front, all hand sewn.
Nape to hem 37 1/2 in; 95 cm.
Trousers: In blue and white roller printed cotton, the deep waistband with front opening with three buttons and buttonholes, flanked by two more buttons each side , a small slit pocket to the waistband, two larger slit pockets below the waistband, with buttons at the outer edge, the fall front with two buttonholes, the back waistband with a V and with two bone buttons, wide legs, lined throughout with white cotton.
Waist to hem 38 in; 97 cm.
Jacket: This has been washed several times with just water. Quite sound and in pretty good condition considering what it has gone through. There are of course mud stains. The pink trim has broken in places but generally in tact. As you look at the jacket the buttons on the right hand side are the original self covered and in good condition. The set of bone buttons on the left have been replaced and are actually rather too large for the hand embroidered buttonholes. The smaller self covered cuff buttons are quite worn. The lining is quite sound with one small tear.
Shirt: See next photo. This has been washed, as above. There was a horizontal tear 3 in; 8 cm which has been repaired, near the right hand bottom of shirt. One button missing to the front. Collar little ragged to the front edge.Shirt in remarkable condition and quite clean.
Trousers: See next photo. We have soaked the trousers in water which lifted a lot of the mud. They need soaking/washing again or having a conservator attend to them. The buttons are a mix and have been replaced. The back waistband is damaged. See photos.
View of Bankside (1816-25) attributed to Thomas Miles Richardson (1784 - 1848). Museum of London 95.185. The man on the left hand side has a striped shirt, similar to ours.
All images and text © meg-andrews.com 2021
