Cottage Industry Collection

The Lace Maker, c1664. Artist: Jan Vermeer
The Lace Maker, c1664. The woman is making pillow lace which uses a strip of parchment on which the pattern has been pricked out

Cottage industry: Coventry silk loom, 1823
3480220 Cottage industry: Coventry silk loom, 1823; (add.info.: Early 19th century cottage industry: Coventry silk loom. England, 1823.); Universal History Archive/UIG

Women living in the East End of London, making knitted stockings and mittens, 1869
3478870 Women living in the East End of London, making knitted stockings and mittens, 1869; (add.info.: Two elderly women living in the East End of London)

House in Pelham Street, 1850
3480212 House in Pelham Street, 1850; (add.info.: House in Pelham Street, Spitalfields London, silk weavers worked on the top floor behind enlarged windows which offered more natural light)

House in Booth Street, 1850
3480210 House in Booth Street, 1850; (add.info.: House in Booth Street, Spitalfields London, silk weavers worked on the top floor behind enlarged windows which offered more natural light)

Weaver on his weaver - A weaver weaving fabric on a loom in a cottage. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of
FLO4577845 Weaver on his weaver - A weaver weaving fabric on a loom in a cottage. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts.; (add.info)

Spitalfields silk weaver working at her loom, 1893
3480211 Spitalfields silk weaver working at her loom, 1893; (add.info.: Spitalfields silk weaver working at her loom in her cottage window)

The Lace-Maker, 1885. Creator: Georg Pauli
The Lace-Maker, 1885

Lady Hamilton, by George Romney, in the late exhibition of Old Masters, Burlington House, 1876. Creator: Unknown
Lady Hamilton, by George Romney, in the late exhibition of Old Masters, Burlington House, 1876. That too celebrated female beauty, Emma Lyons, a Welsh servant-girl

The Diligent Mother, mid-late 18th century. Creator: Workshop of Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin
The Diligent Mother, mid-late 18th century

Kondo Sato, c1802. Creator: Hokusai
Kondo Sato, c1802

The Holy Family in Joseph's workshop, 1747-1812. Creator: Tethart Philip Christian Haag
The Holy Family in Joseph's workshop, 1747-1812

Silk Culture in China: preparing raw silk, 1857. Creator: Unknown
Silk Culture in China: preparing raw silk, 1857. When the worms have cast their several skins...they are removed...preparatory to their spinning

Woman spinning, 1652-1662. Creator: Nicolaes Maes
Woman spinning, 1652-1662. Alternative title: woman spinning, a reel on the wall

The sleeping lace worker, 1795-1873. Creator: Ignatius van Regemorter
The sleeping lace worker, 1795-1873. Woman dozing as a cat tangles the threads of her lace work. Design for a print

The spinner, 1741-1820. Creator: Abraham Delfos
The spinner, 1741-1820

Interior of a Cobbler's Shop, c.1650. Creator: David Ryckaert III
Interior of a Cobbler's Shop, c.1650

Peasant Family in their Cottage, 1817. Creator: Cornelis Kruseman
Peasant Family in their Cottage, 1817. Mother spinning yarn as she minds her child, while her husband fills his clay pipe with tobacco

Interior with Fisherman and Man beside a Bobbin and Spool, 1663. Creator: Gerritsz Quiringh van Brekelenkam
Interior with Fisherman and Man beside a Bobbin and Spool, 1663

Peasant Woman Spinning, 1640-1677. Creator: Thomas Wijck
Peasant Woman Spinning, 1640-1677. Mother at the spinning wheel, her child sits in a chair designed as a toilet, with a built-in chamber pot, and plays with the family dog

Interior with Woman at the Spinning Wheel, 1661. Creator: Esaias Boursse
Interior with Woman at the Spinning Wheel, 1661

"The Industrious Needlewomen" - painted by M. Trayer - from the Exhibition of French Artists, 1856. We are happy to learn that the Exhibition which has been opened in Liverpool

A Weaver's Workshop, 1652. Creator: Johannes Dircksz. van Oudenrogge
A Weaver's Workshop, 1652. Men warming themselves at the fire while a woman works in the background

Old Woman Spinning, 1650-1660. Creator: Nicolaes Maes
Old Woman Spinning, 1650-1660

Travel views of Europe, between 1904 and 1938. Creator: Arnold Genthe
Travel views of Europe, between 1904 and 1938. Women textile workers, and dog sniffing manure

At the China Repairer's, 1891. Creator: Wenzel Tornoe
At the China Repairer's, 1891

A telegram, 1893. Creator: Julius Exner
A telegram, 1893. A distraught young woman holds a message bearing bad news. On the table are balls of yarn she has spun with her spinning wheel

Comforts Committee of Navy League, between 1910 and 1920. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Comforts Committee of Navy League, between 1910 and 1920. USA. First World War: women using circular knitting machines to produce socks for sailors

Elderly woman sitting on porch spinning, c1894. Creator: Charles Richards Dodge
Elderly woman sitting on porch spinning, c1894

Sorting and stringing the "golden leaf" at the tobacco barn, near Hartsville, South Carolina, 1938
Near Hartsville, South Carolina, sorting and stringing the "golden leaf" at the tobacco barn, preparatory to curing. Note sled by which tobacco is brought to the barn from the field

Handmade basket shop, Thies, Senegal, West Africa, Africa

The International Exhibition - "Girl of the Parish of Rattvik, in Decarlia, by the Fireside", by Johan Frederick Hockert, 1862. Engraving of a painting

Woman on Veranda, Spinning... 18th century. Creator: Shunsho
Woman on Veranda, Spinning; another Pounding Cloth on Rock in Foreground, 18th century

Portion of an old broadcloth manufactury, Cranbrook, Kent, 1857. Creator: Unknown
Portion of an old broadcloth manufactury, Cranbrook, Kent, 1857....in this locality...cloth manufacture was at one period held in high repute; and Hasted, the historian of Kent

Grandmother with her grandson, 1875. Creator: Kristian Zahrtmann
Grandmother with her grandson, 1875

Keens Cycle Manufactory OFH01_01_02_051
Keen's Cycle Manufactory, Angel Road, Giggshill Green, Thames Ditton, Elmbridge, Surrey. A group portrait taken outside the bicycle workshop and repair shop of John Keen

Navaho Weaver, Canyon de Chelly, Navaho Reserve (oil on canvas mounted on panel)
HEH372274 Navaho Weaver, Canyon de Chelly, Navaho Reserve (oil on canvas mounted on panel) by Moon, Carl (1878-1948); 81.3x66 cm; Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino

Hamagawa, from the series "A Record of a Journey to Enoshima (Enoshima kiko)"
Hamagawa, from the series " A Record of a Journey to Enoshima (Enoshima kiko)", 1833. A group of people making nori (seaweed) mats for use in sushi

Spinning, c. 1898. Creator: Emilie V. Clarkson
Spinning, c. 1898. Photogravure, no. 18 from the portfolio " American Pictorial Photography, series ii" (1901); edition 34/150

The Making of Silk Floss, ca. 1790. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
The Making of Silk Floss, ca. 1790

A Woman Spinning, Plate 4 from Five Feminine Occupations, ca. 1640-57

Two Women Sewing, Plate 1 from Five Feminine Occupations, ca. 1640-57

Interior of a Breton home, late 19th century (colour engraving)
CHT219307 Interior of a Breton home, late 19th century (colour engraving) by Jacott Cappellaere, Henriette (fl.1850); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French

The Common Method of Beetling, Scutching and Hackling the Flax
STC110568 The Common Method of Beetling, Scutching and Hackling the Flax, plate IV of The Linen Manufactory of Ireland, 1791 (coloured litho) by Hincks

Woman and Child with Spinning Wheel, c. 1870s (b / w photo)
696675 Woman and Child with Spinning Wheel, c.1870s (b/w photo) by Thomson, John (1837-1921); Private Collection; Scottish, out of copyright

Detail of a blue and white bowl showing the manufacture of porcelain (porcelain
PFR208012 Detail of a blue and white bowl showing the manufacture of porcelain (porcelain) (see 208011) by Chinese School; Private Collection; ePaul Freeman; Chinese, out of copyright

Blue and white bowl decorated with a scene showing the manufacture of porcelain
PFR208011 Blue and white bowl decorated with a scene showing the manufacture of porcelain (porcelain) (see 208012) by Chinese School; Private Collection; ePaul Freeman; Chinese, out of copyright

Chairmender (w / c on paper)
DFL28688 Chairmender (w/c on paper) by Allingham, Helen (1848-1926); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

For sale as Licensed Images

Choose your image, Select your licence and Download the media

In the heart of Mali's bustling capital, Bamako, a vibrant cottage industry thrives. Handmade basket shops line the streets, showcasing the skill and creativity of local artisans. These baskets are not just functional; they are works of art that reflect the rich cultural heritage of this West African country. Traveling further west to Thies in Senegal, we find another cottage industry at work. Here, a cycle manufactory named Keens produces bicycles with meticulous craftsmanship. Each bike is carefully assembled by skilled hands, ensuring durability and quality for its riders. Taking a step back in time to 1939 in Randolph County, North Carolina, we witness the humble beginnings of a cottage industry that sustained many Negro tenants. Dorothea Lange's photographs capture moments frozen in time - from a daughter churning butter to a pottery churn on their porch. These images remind us of the resilience and resourcefulness found within these communities. Venturing even further into history brings us to Canyon de Chelly on Navaho Reserve where an oil painting depicts a Navaho Weaver immersed in her craft. The intricate patterns she creates tell stories passed down through generations and showcase her mastery as an artist. From Japan comes Hamagawa's artwork titled "A Record of Journey to Enoshima. " This series captures various aspects of Japanese culture including traditional spinning techniques used by women during ancient times. It serves as a reminder that cottage industries have long been integral parts of societies worldwide. The Making Silk Floss painting from 1790 showcases Kitagawa Utamaro's talent as he immortalizes silk production - another example of how cottage industries have shaped economies throughout history. Shunsho's 18th-century print titled "Woman on Veranda Spinning" transports us back to feudal Japan when spinning was considered one of five feminine occupations. This image highlights both the practicality and beauty associated with such crafts.