Victoria and Albert Museum
The world’s greatest museum of art and design
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Pockets at the V&A
Pair of pockets, France
Pair of pockets, France
Pair of pockets
1800-30
France
T.43&A-1909
These cotton pockets were given to the V&A in 1907 as part of a collection of dress and textiles from the Arles region of France. They formed part of the ethnic costume of that region. Unlike the other pockets in the V&A's collections, these are rectangular in shape with pleats to make them narrower at the top. The white work decoration has been tamboured, that is embroidered with a tiny hook instead of a needle. Tambouring was an Indian technique that spread to Europe in the late 18th century which allowed chain stitch to be worked more quickly. Cotton began to replace the traditional use of linen for underwear in the early 19th century.
