Kous gebreid van effen witte zijde, met langs de klink een geborduurde lijn, uitlopend in een bladvorm, op de boord in rood in kruissteek 'I.A.G' before 1820

These knitted white silk stockings, with their embroidered details, were meticulously crafted by an anonymous maker. Consider the labor involved in creating these stockings. Silk production itself demanded skilled work from silkworm cultivation to the weaving of fabric. Knitting these stockings would have been a time-consuming hand process requiring precision. The embroidered initials ‘I.A.G.’ are likely those of the owner. This personal touch elevates the stockings beyond mere utility, representing status and individuality, and reminding us of the intimate relationship between maker, owner and garment. The stockings invite us to reflect on the social and cultural significance of clothing, the skilled labour involved in its creation, and how these are tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we gain a deeper understanding of the human stories woven into everyday objects.