Tags
18th century, 18th century clothes, common dress, common people, Costume, drawings, laundry, Paul Sandby, Research
Paul Sandy, The Laundress, 1780. British Museum, 1904,0819.624
This print makes me think of Gertrude Stein, “Irons on the grass alas” because I think I would be pretty alas if I were ironing on grass. Still, I’m glad to know that ironing in camp is plausible, because it’s one more thing I can do, though also one more heavy item to pack.
I continue to chase laundry in my spare time, with a Pinterest board of collected images, which will give you a sense of the timeless drudgery of washing clothes. There will be stooping.
A Washerwoman, by John Varley (1778-1842). Tate Britain, T08695
In this sketch by John Varley, he has helpfully given notes to supplement the lines.
“neckhandkf
spots Drab stays
blue check apron”
The symbol in front of ‘spots’ suggests the neckhandkerchief’s pattern, a dot in a square, much like the ones you can today from Burnley & Trowbridge. “Drab stays” suggests a very utilitarian pair of wool stays, and that the washerwoman has stripped off her gown or bodice, and is working in shift, stays, and petticoat(s). This seems to be the same woman is in the “Woman with Wash-Tubs” drawing, and I’d guess her hat is straw.
A Scotch Washerwoman. Crayon drawing by Pauil Sandby after 1745. British Museum, Nn,6.61
There’s a remarkable consistency in the English drawings, though Varney and Sandby are about two decades apart. The tubs, the tools, the stooping: laundry is hard and unglamorous work, Sandby’s Scottish laundress aside. I can guarantee you that the 10th Massachusetts would have to outsource laundry in that style. (In any case, Scotland typified poverty and backwardness for late-eighteenth century Englishmen, so Sandby’s drawing, in addition to being titillating, is perpetuating English stereotypes of Scottish dress and practices and is, thankfully, not a reliable source.)
Kitty Calash 
Outsourcing! Yes, I can’t imagine you respectable ladies imitating our Scottish friend there, especially in the nippy winds at Ft. Lee. Great collection of images, KC! I was very struck by the juxtaposition of the Scottish one with the lovely sad old woman strapped to her washboard. Ouch.
I think the tired old women are much more realistic than the Scottish laundress, but I’m pretty sure she’d get a new washtub faster…
I’ve once read that linen spread out in the sun on misty grass would help to whiten the cloth (carefully avoiding to press the grass and leave green stains in the laundry)…I’m afraid my question might be silly, but is there any reason to why ironing a cloth on grass?!
She’s ironing a garment on a cloth on the grass because she’s part of a military encampment, and doesn’t have an ironing board. That would be the only reason. There are later sketches showing men ironing on makeshift tables, but people used what they had. What seems odder to me is bringing along an iron, but I expect officers are picky!