1865 Corset
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1865-1875 A corset in cream cotton
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The back of the corset fastened with a modern lace
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Detail of the centre front
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One of the extra panels inside the back
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Detail of one of the front edges where the stitching has come undone revealing the kid leather covered steel busk; the buttonhole stitching at the base of a dart can be seen.
Description
The ivory cotton is in a herringbone weave.
There are bones at the centre back, two about 1½" apart at the sides, double bones diagonally across the back, and bones each side of the bust gussets; the bone on one side of the gussets nearest each centre front extends down to the lower edge of the corset.
The points at the base of the bust gussets are reinforced with buttonhole stitch.
The corset has a steel front-opening busk; these first appeared in 1829 and made dressing easier. The front edges of the corset are closed over the busk with whip stitch, and this is coming undone in a number of places, revealing the busk which is covered in white kid leather. The clips have the initials D and Y on them.
The back has nine pairs of metal eyelets for lacing, and the four at waist level are closer together for pulling in the waist. The lace here is modern.
The corset is cut on the bias so the fabric gives a little, and there is a smaller panel each side cut on the straight grain, sewn inside, which extends from the side front round to the back, to provide some stability. These are placed inside the back above the waist.
The top and lower edges are bound with cotton tape about ¼" wide, as are the lower edges of the inside panels.
The top edge is trimmed with a band of cream cotton with cutwork embroidery which has slits for slotting blue silk ribbon, ⅜" wide, showing in ⅜" long sections. This is tied in a bow on the right-hand centre front, and is now rather fragile. Each side of the band is ivory cotton cutwork, ¾" wide, with a vandyke edge.
Contemporary illustrations
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Fashion drawing in La Mode Illustrée, July 1861
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Fashion drawing in La Mode Illustrée, September 1867; it is described as a long corset
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Fashion drawing in La Mode Illustrée, September 1874
