18th Century Men’s Shirts

Last updated: Jan 7, 2024

  • National Museums Scotland K.1997.1115 B, “Knee-length shirt of brown wool, opening to the waist fastened with eleven cloth buttons, one of a collection of finds from a body discovered in a bog on Arnish Moor, Lewis: Scottish, early 18th century”
    From the same collection of finds: a jacket (K.1997.1115 A), a brown wool undershirt (K.1997.1115 C), a knit bonnet (K.1997.1115 F), and a pair of cloth stockings (K.1997.1115 D & K.1997.1115 E).
  • Rhode Island Historical Society 1971.11.3, c. 1700-1750; “Cream, large shirt, sleeves gathered at cuffs, open at neck and front with 5.25" ruffle. Lower right side in brown cross stitch "AU".”
  • 18th century men’s shirt made in France, coarse linen
  • Kunstmuseum Den Haag 0301801, an 18th century shirt with a ruffle down the front
  • RISD 66.016.21A, linen, America, mid-18th century
  • Colonial Williamsburg 2023-103, linen shirt made in England c. 1750; “A man’s shirt made of plain-woven white linen with fine linen wrist ruffles. The shirt has a tall collar that was designed to fold over a neck stock, with a row of very fine decorative stitching around the neck edge. Two more rows of decorative stitching are at the top of the collar and are sewn opposite of the neck edge, these two rows would be seen once the shirt is folded over the stock. The collar closes with three buttons. Only one button survives which is thread worked over wood. The neck gussets are set into the neck edge and are further reinforced with a narrow wristband. The body of the shirt is seamed down both sides with the selvage edge running down body left. A decorative heart embellished with French knots and fine stitching finishes the lower edge of the bosom slit. Full sleeves are neatly gathered into the body and terminate with very narrow wrist bands. Ruffles extend down the wrist vent, across the top of the wristband, and back down the vent. The wristband close with sleeve buttons or cuff links. Each of the side vents of the shirt terminate in reinforcing triangles. The body right is marked 'RB' in yellow silk, which may have been red.”
  • V&A T.246-1931, linen, United Kingdom, second half of the 18th century
  • Museum Rotterdam 70591, white linen shirt with round neckline, upright collar, and long sleeves, embroidered 'IH 18', c. 1750-1800
  • Museum Rotterdam 70587, long shirt in cream-colored linen with white embroidery and open hemstitch, embroidered 'AH / 1759' under the neckline
  • Fries Museum T1957-271, white linen shirt, 1767
  • Colonial Williamsburg 1974-268, handspun linen with mother of pearl buttons, America or England, 1775-1790, remodeled 1810-1820 (cuffs and collar replaced)
  • Met 2006.132, America, c. 1775-1790
  • Met 2006.133, America, c. 1775-1790
  • Met C.I.41.146.5, America, 18th century
  • 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.”
  • Museum Rotterdam 20955, a coarse white linen shirt embroidered with the date 1778
  • Met 2009.300.62, French, c. 1780; “This nicely finished example of a late 18th-century men's shirt shows the typical cut of the period. Gussets below the arm were used to allow freedom of movement while the gusset on the shoulder assisted with fit, allowing the fabric to not pull tightly through the neck and chest. The unique piecing on this shirt approximates the shape of the body and allows for more fullness at the front without adding bulk at the waist.”
  • Historic Deerfield 2001.9.2, linen shirt with mother-of-pearl buttons, made in Massachusetts c. 1780-1800
  • Connecticut Historical Society 1844.48.0, Col. William Ledyard’s shirt, c. 1781; “Man's shirt of fine linen. It is extremely finely stitched, and has whipped ruffles at the center front opening and on the cuffs. There is a 3 1/2-inch high collar, with a closure of three thread buttons (one button is missing). The shirt is cut from one long length of linen, folded at the shoulderline, and slit for fitting the collar. Gussets at the neck edge along the shoulderline provide proper fitting for the collar. The shirt body is gathered around the neckline into the collar. The shoulderline is reinforced with a 1 1/4-inch wide strip of linen. The center front of the shirt below the opening has been replaced, or was pieced in the period, with a very slightly heavier weight linen. The sleeves are full, being gathered into the shoulder and into the cuff with very fine gathers. 11 1/2-inch long slits at the sides of the shirt body are reinforced and widened at the top with the addition of piece of linen. Worked in fine cross stitches in blue thread at the top of the proper left slit is "W L / 2".”
  • Western Reserve Historical Society L2015.1.2, American or European, late 18th century
  • Kerry Taylor Auctions Lot 41, a fine linen gentleman's shirt, 18th century
  • Historic Deerfield 1998.28, “Man's blue and white checked linen shirt which came from the Wakeman family of Westport, Conn,” 1780-1820
  • Shirt of Col. William Ledyard, worn in 1781
  • MRAH, a sleeve and gusset, c. 1790
  • Historic Deerfield 2001.9.3, high-collar shirt made in Massachusetts, c. 1790
  • A man’s shirt, c. 1790-1810, in Fitting & Proper: “off-white linen with a finer linen gauze ruffle”
  • Historic Deerfield 2017.30.3, c. 1790-1815; “Man’s square cut, white linen shirt featuring a standing collar, mother-of-pearl buttons, and the initials 'EP' [Elisha Porter] embroidered in cross stitch in light brown silk floss at proper left side near gusset.”
  • Winterthur 1967.1478, England, c. 1790-1825; see also A Beautiful (and Romantic) 18th c. Man's Shirt from "The Diligent Needle" Exhibition
  • GNM T4053, a man's shirt, end of the 18th century
  • Met C.I.46.82.10, American or European, c. 1795-1800
  • Met C.I.46.82.11, American or European, c. 1795-1800
  • Met C.I.46.82.12, American or European, c. 1795-1800
  • BATMC II.02.3, linen, c. 1798-1802
  • Kunstmuseum Den Haag 0301803 and Kunstmuseum Den Haag 0301804, shirts with ruffles at the front, 1800
  • MRAH, linen, 18th or 19th century
  • RISD 43.386, American, late 18th century; linen plain weave with cotton ruffle
  • 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.”
  • Colonial Williamsburg 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