“Chilprufe for Children” – Original 1920s Spring and Summer Wool Undergarment Advertisement

Description

Description:
This elegant vintage advertisement from the 1920s promotes Chilprufe No. 436, a special line of lightweight wool undergarments for children, produced by The Chilprufe Manufacturing Co., based in Leicester, England. The poetic heading, “Summer has called & left her card, but she has not yet come to stay,” sets the tone for a product designed to bridge the changeable British spring weather.

The advert appeals to parents’ sense of health and safety, stating that as children exert themselves during the energetic spring season, they risk catching chills. Chilprufe’s spring and summer weight garments, made of pure wool like their winter counterparts but with a lighter texture, are presented as the solution—providing warmth without overheating, and ensuring a balanced body temperature in fluctuating weather.

Illustrated with an adorable image of children playing joyfully, this advert highlights the brand’s full range of undergarments and also promotes Chilprufe nursery shoes and slippers made of soft glazed kid leather, and a painting competition offering cash prizes to children each month.

The advert is not artist-signed, though the illustration style reflects the refined pen-and-ink line work typical of 1920s British print design.

Mounted on black cardboard, this print measures approximately 12 x 15 cm (4.7 x 5.9 inches). It’s a charming piece of textile and children’s clothing history, ideal for collectors of vintage advertising or early 20th-century ephemera.

Condition Note:
This is an original vintage advertisement from the 1920s. Buyers should expect minor signs of age such as light foxing, soft creases, or gentle paper toning—features that are consistent with age and add to its nostalgic charm.