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AP Wolf
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Apwolf
Post Number: 2834
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 3:42 pm: | 
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I found the following strange reference to shawls and prostitutes at the end of this trial from the Old Bailey from about 1831:
‘Original Text:
949. MARY ANN WILLIAMS was indicted for stealing, on the 16th of April, sixty-three combs, value 15 s., the goods of William Taylor , from the person of Elizabeth Spray .
WILLIAM TAYLOR. I live in Osborne-street, and am a comb-maker. I sent Elizabeth Spray, my apprentice, on the 16th of April with some combs to sell; she came back, and said she had lost them.
ELIZABETH SPRAY. Mr. Taylor sent me with five dozen and three combs to sell, in a basket. I was standing at the corner of Osborne-street; the prisoner came and asked me if I would do her the favour to go to Mr. Chipperfield's, and fetch her a penny loaf, and she would insist upon my giving her my basket to hold till I came back - I came back in about ten minutes, and she was gone. I saw her again on Monday, and asked her what she had done with the combs; she said, "Never mind, I have them safe at home." I had known her before - she had sold combs for my mistress.
Prisoner's Defence. I met her; she said, "Mary, I have lost my combs on Saturday - do you think I had better blame it on the person who took them, or no - my mistress has given me a shawl to go out and prostitute myself."
GUILTY . Aged 18.
Confined Two Months .’
I wondered whether anyone else had come upon similar references?
I do know that the prostitutes of Italy were made to wear striped shawls at one stage. |
Jana Oliver
Police Constable
Username: Jana
Post Number: 5
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 9:44 pm: |
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AP
Fascinating notion, that a shawl could be used as a visual 'symbol' of a prostitute. I've not come across that in my research, however I'll keep an eye out for it in future.
Along that line, an old song speaks of "I'll dye my petticoat, I'll dye it red" the idea being that the girl has become a prostitute. I've not been able to track that one down either, though I suspect it is similar to the Italian striped shawls to differentiate the supposedly morally upright to those who worked the streets for a living. And it would solve those awkward moments when you asked some passing lady her going rate only to find out she's not that sort.
Jana
An author is a fool who, not content with boring those he lives with, insists on boring future generations." -- Charles de Montesquieu
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Phil Hill
Assistant Commissioner
Username: Phil
Post Number: 1019
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2005 - 2:27 am: |
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I believe in ancient Rome, that prostitutes wore saffron coloured tunics. In my reading on Victorian Britain I have never come across any reference to prostitutes wearing (or being made/encouraged to wear) a distinctive garb.
Phil |
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