MovieChat Forums > Cranford (2008) Discussion > Question about the 'birdcage'

Question about the 'birdcage'


I never really understood what happened with that part. Was Erminia playing a prank on her? Or was there a mistake made with the order?

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She bypassed Erminia and ordered a ladies undergarment from a Paris magazine, a sort of support for a crinioline dress, thinking it was a birdcage.

When Miss Pole, still thinking itt was a cage, hung it outside her house, Erminia explained to her what it was for, causing her excruciating embarrassment.

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I don't remember Ms Pole bypassing Erminia, when did that happen?
I've watched Cranford three times already and now you give me reason to rewatch it yet again. I'm obviously still not paying enough attention! ^^

"Occasionally I'm callous and strange."

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Finally have the answer to that mystery, at least I think. The first crinolines were simply made of stiff fabric (stiff because woven with horse-hair, "crin" in French, hence the word). But in 1856, a man had the idea to make crinolines out of metallic circles attached together through strips of cloth - which is exactly what we see in Cranford. These crinolines were called "crinolines-cages" because of their ressemblance to birdcages. So it was really just a matter of misunderstanding: when Erminia ordered a "cage", the French supplier simply assumed she was ordering a crinoline cage, not a birdcage. Paris was definitely more famous for its fashion than its pet-stores at the time, so the misunderstanding makes sense!
I am wondering though when the action is supposed to take place in Cranford. Those crinolines only appeared around the 1850s (contemporary with the writing of the book) but I always thought, based on the fashion worn in the show, that the action was set much earlier.

"Occasionally I'm callous and strange."

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Erminia also thought the cage was the woman's undergarment. The expressions on her face when Miss Pole was talking about it holding Mr. Jenkyn's "treasure" and how it must withstand being "nipped and teased" reveal her mistake. That was part of the humor of the scene.

The Cranes of Maine have got your Living Brain

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