18th Century Men’s Shirts

• V&A T.246-1931, linen, United Kingdom, second half of the 18th century
• A New England Shirt, found in the Perry-Thrasher House, in Rehoboth, Massachusetts; made of white cotton muslin, possibly a boy’s size
• CW 1974-268, handspun linen with mother of pearl buttons, America or England, 1775-1790, remodeled 1810-1820 (cuffs and collar replaced)
• V&A T.360-1984, Britain, c. 1775-1800; “A man's shirt of fine linen, composed of squares and triangles, very finely sewn with high collar fastened with 3 dorset buttons. Each cuff has eyelet holes for tapes or cufflinks. The sleeve has been pleated during the ironing process. Cross-stitched initials.”
• Shirt of Col. William Ledyard, worn in 1781
• MRAH, a sleeve and gusset, c. 1790
• BATMC II.02.3, linen, c. 1798-1802
• MRAH, linen, 18th or 19th century
• MFA 99.664.8, linen, America, early 19th century; “Shirt with buttoning fold-down collar and lawn ruffle around front opening, re-inforced shoulders, sleeves gathered around arm holes, single shell button on each cuff (would have been folded back when worn), gussets under arms and at side slits”
• NMM UNI0081, cotton and linen, 1807; “an example of the type of non-regulation garment that was worn with uniform. It is a rare survival, and illustrates the cut and style that was fashionable in the early 18th century. The shirt features a high collar, which fastens with two Dorset buttons. A stock would have been worn around the neck so that only the edges of the collar were visible. The construction of the shirt is quite full, particularly the sleeves which are pleated. This would enable the wearer to fit into the relatively tight-armed coats of the period.”
• CW 1992-226, linen, c. 1800-1820; “Small boy's shirt of white tabby linen. Shirt has turn-down collar fastened with one thread button at center front and trimmed with back-stitch top stitching, a 7" long front opening hemmed and edged with needlework picot and needle lace filling to reinforce bottom of slit. Long sleeves gathered at top of sleeve and gathered into 7/8" cuffs edged with picot, top stitched with back stitching and fastened with one thread button. Underarm sleeve gussets of coarser tabby linen. Body of shirt has seam and top stitching at top of shoulders, vents on either side of lower body, and narrow rolled hems.”
• PVMA 1921.10.01, linen, Massachusetts, c. 1820