Social History (TB2336)

Early type of grand piano, John Broadwood of London. Previously dated c. 1820, but Broadwood took control of company around 1771, and company was re-named John Broadwood & Son in 1793 – perhaps suggests piano dates from 1771 – 1793. The first grand pianos were made in the 1770s.

Social History (TB2037)

Social History (T9381.a)

Friendly Society pole head. Bitton, The George Inn

Social History (TA6801)

Iron key, found at Castle Ditch, Bristol.

Social History (TA5959)

Fire insurance mark. Bulau 797. Tin.

Social History (TD5032)

Knitted female doll in Bristol Grammar School uniform (Lower School). 1970s.

Social History (TD4272)

Blue wool banner with orange reverse. Embroidered with 'schools for mothers'; blue stitching on white panels. Embroidered crest depicts a sailing boat with 'The University Settlement. Bristol. Plus Ultra.'

Social History (Td6143)

'THE UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT BRISTOL PLUS EXTRA' metal brooch.

Social History (TA2653)

White card with handwritten verses at the top and base. Coloured picture in the centre of Cupid in a chariot on a cloud aiming his bow and arrow at courting couple. Paper has stamped border.

Social History (TA3922)

Silver Q shaped buckle with three prongs for holding ribbon in place - plane (no decoration).

Social History (TA3060)

Sepia real photo postcard titled "Tudor doorway in Castle Green, Bristol" along bottom edge, in white lettering. To the left of the door is a sign saying "S. Smith, gold & silversmith" and to the right appears one saying "Castle Men's Bible Class, Sundays at 3, you are cordially invited". Postally unused.

Social History (N2052)

Gold metal and enamel badge with City of Bristol coat of arms at centre, surrounded by a blue ring bearing the inscription 'City of Bristol Special Constable'. With fastener on the reverse to attach, stamped 1915.

Social History (TA1962)

'Happy families' card game. 48 cards. The backs of the cards are decorated with medallions of characters in the card game.

Social History (LESH.0020/25)

Gigot sleeve. Cream fabric.

Social History (TA3909)

Olive green satin bridesmaid dress with short sleeves, boat shaped neckline. Unpressed, knife pleats in skirt. 1965. Centre Back zip made from green metal. 500mm long. Seam round waist. 2 long darts from waist to shoulder blades at the back. 2 small darts at the neckline at the back. The skirt part of the dress had 6 pleats at the waist at the back and front of the piece. There are 4 darts at the front of the item, 2 going from bust to waist and 2 going from bust to under the arm. No lining and no labels.

Social History (TD3105)

Ladies coat. Maxi length. Label states: "90% Viscose, 10% Polyester". Grey to white horizontal shading in stripes. Has hood attached. Central opening is fastened with 5 buttons and popper at top. The coat has two diagonally placed pockets and is lined with navy nylon.

Social History (TB2440)

Women's waistcoat. Purple suede long waistcoat , made by "Deybridge" of Wells. 'V' neckline. 2 panels for waistline and bustline. Bodice fastened with three press studs. Panelled skirt. Unlined. Circa 1970

Social History (TA3514)

Black taffeta evening dress trimmed with gold sequins. Made by Linzi. Short sleeves, underarm gusset appears to have been altered. The skirt is moked from the waist to make a diamond pattern. It has possibly been shortened. Late 1950's. Loopholes at the side of this item suggest that it was meant to be worn worth a belt - which is missing.

Social History (TB2338)

Piccolo piano. The two front legs are turned and tapered with coasters at the base. With two flat square-ish pedals. With an inscription. Inscription: 'Samuel John Noble, London.'

Social History (TB1956)

Sleeveless linen dress, with broad red, blue and maroon stripes separated by narrow pink horizontal stripes. It has a high rounded neckline and is fastened by a dark pink polyester zip at the centre back (490mm long). The hem has been altered by letting down. Bought from Debenhams's Bromley Branch by the owner as a schoolgirl for speech days etc. Circa 1966. ''Berkertex" make. Item is 870mm in length. There are two darts at bust height and a under bust seam. There is a triangular design at hip level. The shape of the dress flares out slightly towards the hem and it is not lined. Size 16 label.

Social History (TD2029)

Dress, 1960s black synthetic chiffon, black synthetic lace, knee length, size 16, evening wear, sleeveless, label states: "Kitty Copeland". Bodice; round neck, above chest translucent lined with cream gauze, horizontal band of lace at bust level, below this bodice lined with black synthetic material - not translucent. 2 seams from bust to waist, ribbon around waist with bow at front, metal zip (550mm)at back to below waist with hook and eye fasteners. Skirt-gathered at waist, under the ribbon band. Length 1000mm. Item is knee length and is lined from the waist down.

Social History (TD825.2)

Skirt, part of ladies skirt suit, made of blue linen with grey lining. 'A' line skirt with petersham band around the waist. There is a 180mm long zip at the left side, with plastic teeth and a metal fastener. There are two darts at the front at hip level and four at the back.

Social History (TD565)

Cream and blue zip fronted dress. The dress is sleeveless and a mini dress with a scooped neckline at the front. It is made of cream and blue twill woven cotton, mostly cream with a blue band 73mm deep at the hem and blue insert strips on the front on each side of the zip. There is a dart for the bust running in from each side of the neck (at the front and back) and two long waist shaping (vertical) darts at the back. The zip has been designed as a feature of the dress and is made of brass with a large ring pull. Sewn into the back neck facing is a machine embroidered makers label stating, "MADE IN ENGLAND, MARY QUANT'S G!NGER GROUP ®." Item is in good condition but is quite dirty with a few stains under the arms. Dress is 890mm in length. The zip is 420mm in length. The blue panel at the front measuring 80mm in width. The item isn't lined. Circa 1963-5

Social History (TA1202)

Copper fire insurance plate for Bristol fire office. Circular plaque with scroll design below. Embossed image of a ship and a castle.

Social History (TD562)

Symmetrical Dress made of cream and brown rayon. Circa 1968. The dress is straight in style with no shaping. It has a square neckline and a raised waist sew. No labels or lining in this item. No zip or fastenings - Item would have been pulled on over head. Consists of 8 different panels in four at the front and four at the back - creating a large cheque design / geometric look. The bodice is in two panels - the left side cream and the right side brown, this alternates at the back and in the skirt. The alternative colour thread is used at the seams for each panel. Dress is 1000mm in length and in good condition.

Social History (TD729.1)

Jacket, part of ladies skirt suit: Black unknown fabric. Jacket Is 490mm in length (quite short). It has a round collar and three-quarter length sleeves (430 mm). At the back there is a centre seam and two darts at the neckline under the rounded collar. The front has 5 black centre buttons and 2 darts running from bust to hem. At the top of the line of buttons there is a hidden popper under the left hand side of the collar - when fastened it creates a high neckline. The jacket is lined with a black cotton like material. Machine stitched. Parts of the hem have been hand stitched, perhaps at a later date. Labels in this item state, "Christian Dior London" , "U.K REGD" , "Modele original" , "MADE IN ENGLAND", "Size 14, S/M", "45155". Labels in inside seam. These pieces were found in store - It isn't known who the donor was or where they are from.

Social History (TD729.2)

Skirt, part of ladies skirt suit. Black unknown fabric. "A" -line skirt with waistband, button through the centre opening. Skirt has 5 buttons that fasten it in the centre, with a popper and hook and eye fastening at the top (on the waistband) to hold it in place. 1 missing button (the top button) and 1 detached button (the third one down). There are two small hip darts at the from and back of the skirt. Label inside states "size 12". Found in store - It isn't known who the donor was or where they are from.

Social History (TA303)

Cigarette case.19th century.

Social History (TD2024)

Dress, 1930's, Sleeveless, full length, blue/silver domask, evening dress, 'Tree of life' material - Bristol. Bodice front, wide shoulder straps, bra holder underneath. Square neckline, 2 pieces of gathered material which is sewn into neckline. Curved edges formed under the bust. The waistline forms a v shape at the front of the piece. The back of the bodice has a low cut square neckline, 23 self covered buttons on the right and loops to fasten on the left of the centre back opening. Buttons go from the neckline to the waist. There are two seams that travel form the top of the dress to the waist. Tightly gathered, almost smocking, ant the bottom of the buttons to form a slight train. The skirt is full, bias cut, with 2 gores. It is unlined. The dress is in fairly good condition though there is a stain on the left shoulder and under the armpits. It has been machine sewn. The label states: "Sara Bolton Ltd. Bristol"

Social History (BCHML.1970)

Early guidebook for Blaise Castle and estate (before the museum opened) - it has a picture of the ivy covered door to the Castle on the front and 'Blaise Castle' in gothic lettering. Probably mid 1920's. Size Length: 227 x width: 143 x Depth: 4mm approx.

Social History (TC1252)

Lady's maxi coat. Bright Mauve woolen maxi coat. Single breasted fastened by 5 large mauve plastic buttons (bottom one missing) collar, long sleeves, body cut in panels slightly flared at hem. No makers name or other label. 2 darts at neckline, front and back. Full length sleeves. 2 seams that the back running from under the arms to the hem and 2 seams at the front running from the bust to the hem. 2 hidden pocket in seams running under the arms. Hidden popper fastening at the top of the row of buttons. Lined with purple rayon material.

Social History (TD3083.1)

Dress, part of 3 piece evening ensemble in purple silk and Chiffon. Full length dress (1460mm) with a strapless bodice (which is hidden by the separate bodice TD3083.2). The hidden bodice is boned and made from watered silk. It is Waisted and there is a clip in the inside to give the bodice shape whilst being worn. There re 4 large darts from bust to waist and bust to underarm. The attached skirt is made from chiffon and has been gathered at the waist. There is a zip centre back that measures 300mm and is covered by the separate bodice when it is worn over the top. The inside edge of the skirt has a weighted trim.

Social History (TD3083.2)

Over bodice, part of 3 piece evening ensemble in purple silk and chiffon. This bodice or camisol is worn over the dress. It has seven lines of horizontal pleats made from purple silk. There are three lines of material for the straps which are tied in a small knot at the top of the shoulder. The bodice is straight lined (square) and fastened at the left side. The fastening runs the length of the bodice and consists of 8 hook eye clips and 7 poppers.

Social History (TA134)

Child's wooden model of a two-wheeled farm-cart. Wheels painted red & the name F.H.Ayres painted in black letters on the front.

Social History (TA3644)

Circular, turned, with circular metal disk in centre bearing the inscription 'Box made from the limb of a tree under which William Penn signed in 1682 his memorable Treaty with the Lenape Indians for the purchase of their territory now called Pennsylvania.' 'Presented to the Bristol Institution in June 1831 by Thomas C. Vanderhorst'.

Social History (TD5992)

Paper receipt from Keynsham Brass Works. 'Bought of Harford & B.B. Co...'

Social History (TB326)

Photograph of Mr and Mrs Browne and family, taken by Prothero of Bristol.

Social History (TA2103)

Cider barrel measure made by Rabone

Social History (TB367)

Snood (headwear). Pale green framework with white wax buds.

Social History (TB366)

Edwardian boudoir cap in net with two bands of pink satin. One band is approx. 15mm wide edged with plain net, the other- nearer the crown- is 25mm wide. Crown decorated with pink, yellow and blue flowers and green leaves in a circle (70mm diameter). Embroidered net 'ear flaps' extend from satin at edge. Elastic at back. Early 1900s.