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Research
- Introduction
- Source Types Explained
- Tailoring Vocabulary
- Website Bibliography

Tailors Pattern Books:
- Burguen MS
  (1618 Spain)
- Freyle MS
  (1580 Spain)
- Anduxar MS
  (1648 Spain)
- Alcega MS
  (1580 Spain)
- Hungarian MS
  (1610)
- Polish MS
  (1585)

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Research>Pattern Tailors Books>Polish MS

A Polish Tailor's Manuscript from the LA County Museum of Art -

I have this friend who is both incredibly personable and persuasive. About December of 1999, he struck up a contact with some folks in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and learned that the museum housed a Polish Tailor's pattern book. One thing led to another and in February 2000 he and I were allowed access to this pattern book. We were not allowed to take pictures so I came armed with sketch book and pencil.

We were officially given about an hour to look at the manuscript but the folks at the Museum were so nice that we actually got a bit more time than that.

The manuscript is small... its dimensions are approximately 6" X 8" (I didn't bring a ruler). It was in text block form, having been bound but not covered. There were 11 folios with 9 pages of patterns, two pages of writing, and several blank pages. It appeared that there were actually two sections of the book, one section containing 7 folios sewn together and the second section containing the remaining 4 folios sewn together. These two sections were then attached. The binding looked to be a waxy linen thread and the pages themselves were a light greay parchment. The drawings and writing were in a dark brown/black ink (presumably the ink has faded and the pages have darkened with age). The book was not printed but is actually cursive written and sketched.

The provenence of the book states that it is a Polish Tailor's Cutting Guide from Germany, Breslau 1567, AC 1992.243.1.

The small manuscript begins with a drawing of two men. The gentleman on the left of the drawing is wearing pluderhose to mid thigh, stockings, doublet and codpiece. He has fitted sleeves and a tall hat. The gentleman on the right is wearing "pumpkin" pants, hose, tall soft boots, a doublet, cod piece, tight sleeves and a loaf hat.

Based on the few patterns contained in the manuscript and comparison of this manuscript with some of the spanish texts, it's my theory that this manuscript is actually a journeyman's pattern book. Without translating the writing and further analysis, however, this is only a theory.

Commentary
f1.3a - Pattern 1
This appears to be patterns for a hood and breeches.
f1.4a - Pattern 2
This appears to be a pattern for the classic German cassock.
f1.5a - Pattern 3
I think this is a saddle trapping of some sort... just a wild guess...
f1.6a - Pattern 4
Another pattern for a hood.
f1.7a - Pattern 5
This looks like a pattern for a caftan or an ecclesiastical garment.
f2.1a - Pattern 6
This appears to be a pattern for a cape.
f2.2a - Pattern 7
Another pattern for a cape. Notice the small squiggly thing located in the lower left hand corner. In the manuscript it looked much like a hook or clasp.
f2.3a - Pattern 8
Based on the position it occuppied in the manuscript and comparing it to various spanish patterns for the same type of garment, I am theorizing that this is a pattern for a woman's robe or surcoat.
f2.4b - Pattern 9
This appears to be a pattern for a shirt. The various lines suggest piecing up from scraps or "cabbage". However, this is only a guess.

 

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