Shirt
Date1820-1852
OriginIreland, Dublin
MediumLinen, Ink, Pearl
DimensionsOverall Length: 34 inches, Selvage Width: 31 inches
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2021-64
DescriptionA linen shirt, completely hand sewn with fine linen or cotton ruffles. The shirt is cut in typical fashion using geometry. Squares and rectangles are gathered to fit the body. The bosom slit has ruffles to either side and a heart at the bottom, decorated with French knots. The wrist and side vents are neatly reinforced with small gussets. Overall, the shirt is very stiff from starch, with vestiges of pattern iron pleats running down to either side of the bosom slit. The shoulder straps are split into a “Y” shape at the neck, a feature common on French shirts in the 18th century. At the back of the neck, the collar is shaped to fit around the neck as it was worn standing at this period.InscribedThe shirt is inscribed with ink on the lower right front of the shirt.
The top section reads:
R.W. Dennis
The lower section crossed out reads:
Ho S Dennis
N 6
25
ProvenanceThis shirt has a unique and a long history of usage. The bottom of the shirt is marked for "Ho S Dennis," which stands for the Honorable John Swift Dennis (1754-1830) an Irish barrister. At some point, Dennis’s son crossed out his father’s name and inscribed "R. W. Dennis" above it. Capt. Robert Dennis (1810-1852) of the East India Company continued to use this shirt, possibly when deployed to Bombay, India when he commanded the 5th Regiment of Native Infantry.
