W S Thomson & Co of Cheapside, London was the leading manufacturing of crinoline hoops producing 4,000 a day in the 1860s.The firm's hoops were considered superior. Punch had field day caricaturing the instablity of the frames. The crinoline frame with watch-springs (wires) was light and replaced layers of heavy cotton and wool petticoats and was in fashion for twenty years. However, most women would not have worn these as they were too impractical for daily living.
Thomson's Prize Model Skirt 30 with a crown to one side and the royal coat of arms to the other, printed in ink to the narrow waistband, the rounded V shape centre back cotton panel and the waistband supporting nine veritcal cotton braids, each supporting twenty eight watch-springs, the lower ones covered with a white cotton casing.
Circumference 9ft 10 in; 3.03 m
Height 30 in; 77 cm with casing
Three watch-springs are broken. All are rusty. Generally grubby.
Stains to the white casing and a tear3 in; 8 cm slit.
All images and text © meg-andrews.com 2021