Lord Clapham’s Justacorps and a Marlburian Uniform

Lord and Lady Clapham, London, circa 1700
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O41545/lord-clapham-doll-unknown/

Looking for an example of a Marlburian uniform I came across this happy looking couple from circa 1700.  Known as Lord and Lady Clapham, they reside in the collection of the V&A and are, I am sure, well known inhabitants of South Kensington.  Never met them until now, but happy to make their acquaintance.  Dolls normally leave me cold, whereas dioramas captivate me, odd since both essentially represent life in miniature, but that’s the mind for you. However, this couple enchanted me lock, stock and barrel.  The description from the V&A notes that these belonged to the Cockerell family who were related to Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) through his grandniece who married into the Cockerell family of Clapham (south London).  The dolls were named the ‘Lord’ and ‘Lady’ after the family’s resident town.  Dolls of this age are rare enough, as is the clothing for either a doll or a person, so this is a rare artifact indeed.

Lord Clapham, the wee man and his clothing
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O41545/lord-clapham-doll-unknown/

Lord Clapham’s justacorps immediately caught my eye. The flare of the wee man’s coat is dramatic. In part this may be due to the flattening of the fabric over time and the exaggerated pressed bell-shape that results, but also due to the circumference, which displays the stylistic difference between the beginning and end of the 18^th century.  This early 18^th century justacorps has a lush fullness that is the antithesis of the shadbelly silhouette of the 1790s.  Men must have moved differently in this part of the century, or rather clothing moved differently on them. Perhaps it can be likened to the shimmy of a woman’s fringe tiered dress from the 1920s, which encapsulates a style, a period, and a way of moving through space. I look at this coat and the term swagger comes to mind, the self-possessed not the pompous definition of the word.  It illuminates that moment of confidence that propelled the 18^th century out of the turbulence and political quagmire of the 17^th century and into the enlightenment, inquiry and reason that become the hallmarks of the 18^th century.  To my eye there is a raw exuberance in this period’s clothing, which disappears with the studied elegance of its fin de siècle cousin. 

Waistcoat
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O41545/lord-clapham-doll-unknown/

Conceptually, they are of the same family, but the stylistic refinement of the later leaves me a bit cold.  It is a personal conceit and I can understand the fascination with the end of the 18^th century, but perhaps I am too much of a Whig at heart to surrender to the opposition.  

As this started with a quest for an example of a Marlburian justacorps I need to be mindful of the military aspect of this period with the triumph of Marlborough and the allied armies. England entered the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) as a realm fearful of French and Spanish Continental domination, but finished it as a united kingdom of England and Scotland triumphant on the European battlefield.  This engraving by Jean Dubosc, created after a painting by Louis Leguerre, of the battle of Taniers (currently Malplaquet) (1709) shows how voluminous justacorps could be.  The pleating of the coat skirts displays a kilt-like density. This color version done later is easier to read than the black and white original, at least for my purposes and close-ups follow.

The Battle of Taniers, after Dubosc, Robert Wilson
https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:227234/

Close-up center

Close-up right of log

Lord Clapham's justacorps interior view
http://whenasinsilks.tumblr.com/post/41535653727/doll-named-lord-clapham-doll-made-of-wood

While only a vestige of the full scale rendition, Lord Clapham’s justacorps and vest with their tight but closable tubular torsos and voluminous skirts are indicative of the of the stiffened coat skirt that waxes and wanes for the next fifty years.  Was the use by men of coat skirt stiffeners a martial fashion response to this triumphant military decade? Was the reintroduction of side padding by women at this time a nod to martial influenced fashion?   Questions for another time I think.

Jeffrey Hopper is an author, editor and the Manager of the Warner House, in Portsmouth, NH.

Dawn Dolls & Their '70s Glam Fashions

Sometimes we all need a little fashion throwback. A sunny spring Sunday seems like a good time to add a little levity to our blog and pay homage to these tiny proto fashionistas!  Do you remember Dawn dolls?
They were made by toy manufacturer Topper (production ceased in 1973) for a short three years from 1970-1973. These diminutive dolls - about 6.5" tall - were all about fashion. In fact, Dawn herself was the owner (and top model, naturally) of the Dawn Model Agency. Her original pals were Angie, Jessica, Dale, Gloria, and, my favorite, Longlocks. It will come as no surprise to learn that they had good-looking boyfriends with perfect hair, who would accompany them to the fashion shows as escorts or supportive audience members.

One of my colleagues still remembers, in great detail, which dolls she had and their outfits. She even owned the oh-so-snazzy rotating fashion stage. (We did play with them a few times in the office as part of our "costume work," I confess.)  The Dawn dolls were less expensive than their larger counterpart, Barbie, so you could get many more dolls or fashion ensembles for the price. Now they are in the collectible category, so hold on to those dolls!  I suppose Bratz dolls will also be considered collectible someday - maybe they already are...

Thank you to Tara Vose Raiselis, Director Saco Museum  & Bridget Swift, Silk Damask Consulting, for their assistance.

Enjoy the Dawn fashion show, courtesy TVdays.com.

http://youtu.be/aeut85bBFvc