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“Bloomer Club” Cigar Box Cover
An 1890’s satiric lid for a cigar box, featuring women in the just-barely-acceptable new styles of skirtless knickerbockers (Bloomers) at a swanky social club. Of course, late-Victorian gender mores were still very rigid in many aspects of society, especially in formal settings, so this was an absurd satirical proposition.
The acceptable settings for bloomers (at least for the more progressively-minded - many people still felt scandalized by them in general) were not restricted to when one was bicycling. Sports such as basketball were also becoming more acceptable for women, and nonrestrictive clothing was a “must” in those arenas, as well.
(via my-ear-trumpet)
Bizarre Victorian fact of the day…
Lady’s maids did not always have to wear a uniform like housemaids did. In some cases they received cast-off dresses from their mistresses in return for good service. However one lady’s maid took this concept of generosity slightly too far. She had become involved in an amateur dramatic group and was caught performing the role of Mary Queen of Scots whilst wearing an evening gown she had taken from her mistress’ wardrobe without permission. She was promptly sacked.
(via 19thcentury)
Beginning in the 1840s, commercial farmers clamored for a potent fertilizer made from bird droppings (guano) obtained from Peru’s Chincha Islands. William R. Grace—who came to New York via Ireland and Peru—made a fortune shipping the stuff to market. In 1880 he followed the lead of William Havemeyer and went into politics, becoming New York City’s first Irish-Catholic mayor. (via)
Talley-ho, mountaineering boyfriend.
ca. 1864, “M. W. Ingle on Lookout Mountain Aged 22 4th July 1864”
Why many Persons Permanently Submit to the vexatious and unsightly appearance of Grey Hair Rather than attempt to Restore it.
(via drtuesdaygjohnson)
Davis & Furber wool-carding machine.
From Appletons’ cyclopaedia of applied mechanic vol. 2, edited by Park Benjamin, New York, 1880.
(Source: archive.org)
Squier’s Cuba sugar-mill.
From Appletons’ cyclopaedia of applied mechanic vol. 2, edited by Park Benjamin, New York, 1880.
(Source: archive.org)
![tuesday-johnson:
c. 1850, [hand-painted daguerreotype portrait of a fireman]
via I Photo Central](http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx8qlooIFh1qa51rdo1_500.jpg)
c. 1850, [hand-painted daguerreotype portrait of a fireman]
via I Photo Central
The widespread introduction of the cage crinoline in 1858 resulted in some rather ridiculous ensembles when combined with short dresses for little girls.
This 1858 fashion plate from Le Journal des Demoiselles contains one such ensemble, as well as a rather spiffy little boy’s velvet suit.
Very well-dressed children watch a puppet show in an 1862 fashion plate from French magazine L’Iris.
