miniature shirt

This miniature shirt is made from worked fine white linen and measures just 14.1 cm tall. It was expertly sewn by the grandmother of the donor, Miss K. Coghlan, around 1860. The Coghlan family had been chemists in Alysham, Norfolk, for many years.Miniature items of clothing such as this were produced by tailors, hatters and seamstresses to demonstrate to clients what the full-sized garment could look like. Alternative, this shirt may have been created in order to hone and demonstrate the expert sewing skills needed to create full-sized clothing.