Randi Ona
       Early American Antiques

Rare pair of 18th century Sewing Pockets, ca. 1775-1795, Southeastern Pennsylvania, possibly Quaker.

 

These pear-shaped pockets are a linen/ cotton base fabric.  The delicate, trailing blue floral vine is a classic example of "China Blue” copperplate printing.  The tapes are narrow shiny silk tapes that are folded in on themselves, a technique similar to 18th-century galloon trim.

 

The internal seams are completely encased and finished off with no visible raw edges or stitching, a technique called “felled seams”. The goal was to make a garment that was as beautiful and durable on the inside as it was on the outside. The edges of the slits are bound by narrow strips of the same printed fabric.

 

Quaker communities favored simple but high-quality floral linens, and "plain" but technically perfect sewing.  Pockets like these were considered "best" pockets - durable and visually neat inside and out.   

 

Matching pairs of pockets are considerably rarer than singles.  This pair is in beautiful condition. Dimensions:  width at bottom 13.5”, width at top 4”, length 14.75” (consistent with fashionable, waist-tied pockets of the period).