Stockings

McCallum|Thomas F. Peirce & Son

ca. 1900 · silk, cotton · Costume Institute

Stockings, originally designed for practical purposes, soon transformed into a fashionable accessory with the invention of the knitting frame in 1589 and then the circular-knitting machine in 1816. This technology allowed for a tighter weave and a better fit. Also, it was much easier to produce stockings, making them more affordable and readily available to a larger public. Plain white stockings were in mode for quite some time, until the mid to late-1800s when hemlines rose, and the ankle was revealed. This change in fashion called for colorful and fanciful motifs to decorate the lower leg, a visually appealing effect. McCallum Hosiery of North Hampton, Massachusetts, was a manufacturer of fine hosiery of the late 19th and early 20th century. Their motto printed on every advertisement being "You just know she wears them." This pair of stockings is set apart from other examples of the period because of their shaping. Both the retailer and manufacturer's marks have been stamped on the foot, making them more unique.

Artist

McCallum|Thomas F. Peirce & Son

Date

ca. 1900

Medium

silk, cotton

Culture

American

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Rhode Island School of Design, 1958