Ondermouw, ballonvormig, van met witwerk versierde batist c. 1860 - 1865

These balloon-shaped under-sleeves, adorned with whitework, were crafted from batiste by A.G. Nije. These sleeves whisper tales of 19th-century Dutch society, where fashion dictated elaborate constructions, even beneath outer layers. Fine batiste fabric and delicate whitework embroidery signalled wealth and status. While seemingly decorative, such garments also speak to the social conditions shaping artistic production. Consider the labour involved in creating these sleeves. Who embroidered them? Were they made in a workshop, a convent, or at home? Such questions prompt us to look beyond the aesthetic appeal, and to investigate the economic structures and social hierarchies of the Netherlands in the 1800s. The meticulous craftsmanship reflects the values of a society that prized both refinement and conspicuous consumption. By exploring historical archives, fashion journals, and social histories, we can decipher the cultural codes embedded in these seemingly simple sleeves.