COL.1996.49
Object name
Date made
Second half 18th century
Place made
Description
Layette pincushion from the second half of the 18th century with the phrase 'Welcome with joy Dear Girl or Boy', small motifs, and borders all made out of pins.
Content description
Layette pincushion from the second half of the 18th century with a layer of silk satin on top of a linen base. On all four edges is a woven silk ribbon edging and 3 cm long fringing. On the top of the pincushion is a design made out of steel pins. At the centre, made of pins, is the sentence 'Welcome with joy Dear Girl or Boy.' The phrase is set within a square of closely set pins which create a wavy line effect. There are four diamond motifs and two voided heart motifs within the same square. Around the inner square is a simple line of single pins which create a border. This border contains 16 diamond forms each created with 4 pins, one at each corner. One set of four pins appear to be missing.
Layette pincushions were given as a new baby gift in the 18th and 19th centuries, as at the time pins were used to fasten the baby's clothing. They went out of fashion when clothes pins were introduced. Superstition dictated that they should be given after the child was born as the number of pins could be thought to illustrate the amount of pain the mother was likely to suffer! They often carried a traditional phrase relating to the birth of the baby and some simple symbols created by the arrangement of pins.
Layette pincushions were given as a new baby gift in the 18th and 19th centuries, as at the time pins were used to fasten the baby's clothing. They went out of fashion when clothes pins were introduced. Superstition dictated that they should be given after the child was born as the number of pins could be thought to illustrate the amount of pain the mother was likely to suffer! They often carried a traditional phrase relating to the birth of the baby and some simple symbols created by the arrangement of pins.
Dimensions
width: 20cm
height: 20cm
height: 20cm
Materials
Motifs
Credit line
Gift of Mrs Church, 1996.
Catalogue number
COL.1996.49
Other numbers
RSN 517
© Royal School of Needlework