Costume of Household Servants from the Middle Ages to 1900
Social History Reference Antiquarian & Collectible Cultural Studies Fashion History Costume Design Medieval Studies Victorian Studies
Phillis Cunnington’s “Costume of Household Servants from the Middle Ages to 1900” is the only full-length visual reference devoted to the clothes worn by the people who kept great houses running—footmen, lady’s maids, cooks, coachmen, and nursemaids. This 1974 first-edition hardcover is lavishly illustrated with period paintings, estate photographs, and line drawings that show every detail of livery, aprons, caps, and badges of service. Because the book tracks 700 years of working dress, it is indispensable for costume designers, historical-reenactment groups, writers, and collectors who need accurate, dateable images they cannot find on Pinterest or Google.
What makes this copy especially appealing is its vintage library provenance: it still carries the original dust jacket—something most ex-library copies lost decades ago—and the discreet stamps and pencil underlining testify that generations of readers actually used it as a research tool, not a shelf ornament. The binding is tight and square, the pages are bright, and the inscription (not by the author) adds a personal touch that collectors of social-history volumes enjoy. For fashion students, it is a primary source that shows how fabric, cut, and color instantly signaled rank long before logos ever existed.
Because the book is out of print and rarely surfaces in collectible condition, demand is steady among museum shops, theater wardrobe departments, and Etsy sellers who recreate historical garments. Keywords that bring searchers to this title include “servant livery reference,” “historical household staff clothing,” “Victorian maid uniform book,” and “Medieval domestic costume guide.” Whether you need a single accurate illustration for a novel or a complete visual timeline for a museum exhibit, this copy delivers authoritative content in a sturdy, eye-catching package that holds its value on the antiquarian market.
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