Housework Collection

The Tea-Table, 1920 (oil on canvas)
656960 The Tea-Table, 1920 (oil on canvas) by Harvey, Harold (1874-1941); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Tea-Table. Harold Harvey (1874-1941). Oil on canvas. Dated 1920

Poster advertising Sunlight Soap -- for rest and leisure. Date: early 20th century

John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers
3786257 John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers; (add.info.: John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers, Groces & Co. Early 20th century advert)

John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers
3786256 John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers; (add.info.: John Peck & Co: Coats and Aprons for Butchers, Groces & Co. Early 20th century advert)

Advertisement for the Western Electric vacuum cleaner with a women patiently cleaning the carpet around her snoozing husband. Lets hope that cigarette falls into his lap and wakes him up. Date: c.1924

Housing slums in the Dalmarnock district of Glasgow the deralict tenament housing with its windows broken a load of washing is hung out to dry October 1963

St. Alkmunds, Shrewsbury, 1801, (1938). Artist: John Varley I
St. Alkmund s, Shrewsbury, 1801, (1938). From A Catalogue of the Pictures and Drawings in the collection of Frederick John Nettleford, Volume IV, by C. Reginald Grundy and F. Gordon Roe

DICKENS: DAVID COPPERFIELD. Our housekeeping. Illustration by Hablot Knight Browne from the first edition of David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens, 1850

A Woman Vacuuming
New York, New York: 1929. Marie Bard, 22, who is the model for the 1930 Red Cross poster and US postage stamp illustrated by artist Lawrence Wilbur

Girls putting wood on the fire (chromolitho)
8626920 Girls putting wood on the fire (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Girls putting wood on the fire)

8626896

Engraving depicting the Lady of the House, wearing an apron and gloves, does her own housework, 19th century
5308736 Engraving depicting the Lady of the House, wearing an apron and gloves, does her own housework, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the Lady of the House)

A maid, c.1860 (print)
7293403 A maid, c.1860 (print); (add.info.: Society. Economy. Young maid cleaning. Imagery, Epinal, France, ca 1860.); Photo: © Archives Charmet.

A maid, c.1860 (print)
7293397 A maid, c.1860 (print); (add.info.: Society. Economy. Young maid sewing. Imagery, Epinal, France, ca 1860.); Photo: © Archives Charmet.

Humorous cat postcard (colour litho)
8643334 Humorous cat postcard (colour litho) by Thiele, Carl Robert Arthur (1860-1936); Private Collection; (add.info.: Humorous cat postcard)

Woam ironing with bad posture (engraving)
8655781 Woam ironing with bad posture (engraving) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woam ironing with bad posture)

A housewife's monthly work throughout the year (colour litho)
8634927 A housewife's monthly work throughout the year (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A housewife's monthly work throughout the year)

Dinner table setting, mid 1930s (b/w photo)
8634922 Dinner table setting, mid 1930s (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dinner table setting, mid 1930s)

Woman washing clothes while a child observes
3570820 Woman washing clothes while a child observes by Michetti, Francesco Paolo (1851-1929); (add.info.: Woman washing clothes while a child observes Photographer: Michetti)

Advertising card for the Sweeperette Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan (chromolitho)
8677275 Advertising card for the Sweeperette Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

A maid, c.1860 (print)
7293401 A maid, c.1860 (print); (add.info.: Society. Economy. Young maid serving breakfast. Imagery, Epinal, France, ca 1860.); Photo: © Archives Charmet.

A maid, c.1860 (print)
7293400 A maid, c.1860 (print); (add.info.: Society. Economy. Young maid shop for her employer, at the market. Imagery, Epinal, France, ca 1860.); Photo: © Archives Charmet.

Ironing and calendaring machine, 1871
3479208 Ironing and calendaring machine, 1871; (add.info.: Ironing and calendaring machine, heated by steam, gas, jets or a coal fire)

This Mechanized Age, 1937: Laundry Ironer (colour litho)
8657553 This Mechanized Age, 1937: Laundry Ironer (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Laundry Ironer)

Butcher cutting a piece of steak, mid 1930s (b/w photo)
8634931 Butcher cutting a piece of steak, mid 1930s (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Butcher cutting a piece of steak, mid 1930s)

Plan of work for housewife and one helper, 1930s (colour litho)
8634930 Plan of work for housewife and one helper, 1930s (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Plan of work for housewife and one helper, 1930s)

Plan of work for a small servantless house, mid 1930s (colour litho)
8634929 Plan of work for a small servantless house, mid 1930s (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Plan of work for a small servantless house, mid 1930s)

Plan of work for housewife and one helper, mid 1930s (colour litho)
8634928 Plan of work for housewife and one helper, mid 1930s (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Plan of work for housewife and one helper, mid 1930s)

Lighting in a sitting room, mid 1930s (b/w photo)
8634926 Lighting in a sitting room, mid 1930s (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Lighting in a sitting room, mid 1930s)

Housewife at work on the sewing-machine, mid 1930s (b/w photo)
8634924 Housewife at work on the sewing-machine, mid 1930s (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Housewife at work on the sewing-machine, mid 1930s)

Cottage by the River with Washerwomen, 1835 (oil on fabric)
XOS5879741 Cottage by the River with Washerwomen, 1835 (oil on fabric) by Flers, Camille (1802-68); 29.8x46.1 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA; (add.info.: Painting by Camille Flers).

A maid, c.1860 (print)
7293399 A maid, c.1860 (print); (add.info.: Society. Economy. Young maid shop for her employer, at the butcher. Imagery, Epinal, France, ca 1860.); Photo: © Archives Charmet.

A maid, c.1860 (print)
7293398 A maid, c.1860 (print); (add.info.: Society. Economy. Young maid shop for her employer, at the bakery shop. Imagery, Epinal, France, ca 1860.); Photo: © Archives Charmet.

Women from Sardegna at the loom, 1903 (print on double-weight paper)
3563548 Women from Sardegna at the loom, 1903 (print on double-weight paper); (add.info.: Sardinia 1903 Photographer: Unidentified Author); Alinari Archives, Florence.

Domestic workers, 1900 (print on double-weight paper)
3566858 Domestic workers, 1900 (print on double-weight paper); (add.info.: Madagascar, Africa 1900 ca. Photographer: Unidentified Author); Alinari Archives, Florence.

A maid using an improved dustpan
5310254 A maid using an improved dustpan; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a maid using an improved dustpan which enabled her to hold the pan with her foot while sweeping dust into it with the broom)

Godey's ladies' home fashions, 1880s
NWI4956339 Godey's ladies' home fashions, 1880s.; (add.info.: Godey's ladies' home fashions, 1880s.); Photo © North Wind Pictures.

Monopole linen, c.1880-1890 (illustration)
8698389 Monopole linen, c.1880-1890 (illustration) by Roedel, Auguste (1859-1900); (add.info.: Society. Lifestyle. Laundrywoman ironing)

A maid, c.1860 (print)
7293402 A maid, c.1860 (print); (add.info.: Society. Economy. Young maid cooks in the kitchen. Imagery, Epinal, France, ca 1860.); Photo: © Archives Charmet.

Illustration for David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (litho)
8664379 Illustration for David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (litho) by Furniss, Harry (1854-1925) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dora's Lamentable Shortcomings in Housekeeping)

Commands: Iron dolly's dress (colour litho)
8651656 Commands: Iron dolly's dress (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Iron dolly's dress)

A lighted coal cellar, mid 1930s (b/w photo)
8634925 A lighted coal cellar, mid 1930s (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A lighted coal cellar, mid 1930s)

Larder, mid 1930s (b/w photo)
8634923 Larder, mid 1930s (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Larder, mid 1930s)

Advert of "Sutton's Compound Cream of Ammonia". 1907 (lithograph)
FGL5471156 Advert of "Sutton's Compound Cream of Ammonia". 1907 (lithograph); (add.info.: English advertisement for a multi-purpose ammonia product: bath, tableware, carpet washing)

A hand-cranked washer, 1923 (illustration)
7485486 A hand-cranked washer, 1923 (illustration); (add.info.: Advances in laundry at the beginning of the 20th century: a new hand-cranked washer simplifies washing clothes by stirring them in)

Women in tradtional sardinian costume, winding wool with a skein-winder, 1903 (print on double-weight paper)
3563547 Women in tradtional sardinian costume, winding wool with a skein-winder, 1903 (print on double-weight paper); (add.info.: Bono 1903 Photographer: Guiso); Alinari Archives, Florence.

8626921

Needlework by Candlelight (oil on canvas)
FNP270587 Needlework by Candlelight (oil on canvas) by Shaw, Arthur Winter (1869-1948); 53.3x43 cm; Private Collection.

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"From Sunlight Soap to Hoover Vacuum Cleaners: A Journey through Housework" Step into the past and discover the evolution with these captivating images and advertisements. Intriguingly, a poster advertising Sunlight Soap takes us back in time, reminding us of the importance of cleanliness in every household. The Western Electric vacuum cleaner advertisement showcases a patient woman diligently cleaning her surroundings, highlighting the dedication required for maintaining a pristine home. The artwork "St. Alkmunds, Shrewsbury, 1801" by John Varley transports us to another era, where women were responsible for keeping their homes immaculate. This timeless piece captures the essence of domesticity and reminds us of the long-standing tradition of housekeeping. Fast forward to more modern times; we witness a woman effortlessly vacuuming her living space—a testament to how technology has revolutionized our daily chores. Even Charles Dickens recognized the significance of housekeeping in his novel "David Copperfield, " emphasizing its role in shaping characters' lives. A glimpse into the 1930s reveals an image of a woman at her kitchen sink—an iconic representation that resonates with many generations who have spent countless hours washing dishes and ensuring cleanliness prevails within their homes. Advertisements for Hoover—the world's best vacuum cleaner—showcase spring cleaning rituals and highlight this brand's commitment to making housework more manageable. From electric washing machines to Mary Ann electric vacuum cleaners, these adverts demonstrate how innovation has made mundane tasks easier over time. As we explore these snapshots from history, it becomes evident that housework is not just about tidying up—it represents dedication, pride in one's home, and even societal norms that have shaped our understanding of gender roles throughout different eras. So next time you embark on your own journey through household chores, remember that behind each task lies a rich tapestry connecting generations past and present—a testament to resilience and adaptability as we strive to create comfortable and inviting homes for ourselves and our loved ones.