Photograph: Foot of a silk stocking. The silk is a brown colour, with patches of cream. The knitting is very fine. There is a mended hole in the heel.
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Sock

Date: About 1540-1560

In the earlier medieval period people wore cloth hose or leg coverings. It was only during the reign of Henry VIII that knitted stockings started to appear in England. These were either in wool or silk but would have been relatively rare. This skilfully knitted silk stocking-foot is the only example of its kind in England. A highly fashionable garment, it was probably imported from Italy or Spain. It may have been sold in one of the luxury drapery shops in Cheapside.

Accession number: A13833

Place of collection: Whitecross Street [Islington; City of London]

Material: silk

Measurements: L (foot) 225 mm; W (foot) 70 mm; H (heel to top) 130 mm; H (foot) 75 mm

Gallery location: Case 17.11

Related material

Subjects:

Cloth trade
Dress

Objects:

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