Mellan hantverk och industri : en objektbaserad studie av en dopklänning från ca 1853

Sammanfattning

This study examines a christening gown dated to circa 1853 through an object-based analysis grounded in material culture theory. The aim is to investigate the garment’s construction, sewing techniques, embroidery, materials and stylistic expression, and to relate these observations to the social, cultural and textile context of mid-nineteenth-century Sweden. The study is based on systematic documentation of the gown’s physical properties, including measurements, construction details, traces of wear and embroidery techniques, supported by historical literature, digital newspaper archives and comparative examples from museum collections and fashion illustrations.The analysis shows that the gown was carefully handcrafted using fine white cotton fabric, extensive whitework embroidery and advanced hand sewing techniques adapted to delicate materials. The garment shares stylistic similarities with English christening gowns and contemporary European fashion ideals, while also reflecting changing conditions within textile production, women’s work and consumption during the period 1840–1860. At the same time, the study demonstrates that several production forms likely coexisted, including domestic sewing, commissioned dressmaking and early commercial trade in ready-made christening garments. Drawing on theories of material culture, the christening gown is interpreted not only as a ceremonial garment but also as a material expression of care, status, family identity and continuity across generations. The study highlights how a single textile object can provide insight into broader historical transformations related to ritual, gendered labour, domestic craft and emerging modern consumer culture.