cuffs

These cuffs are made from plaited rush and date from the 1880s. They were worn to protect the sleeves during gardening. In the Victorian era, men's shirts commonly had detachable collars and cuffs, as they wore out more quickly, and were the most visible parts of the shirt - the rest would commonly be covered by a waistcoat or jacket. These plaited rush examples are rare, but ordinary shirt cuffs could be attached using studs, which would slip through two button holes and hold the shirt and cuffs together.