Edwardian Maternity Underwear, ca. 1911 — Extremely Rare Ensemble

A Remarkable Survival of Edwardian Maternity Garments

This exceptionally rare set of Edwardian maternity underwear, dating to around 1911, consists of two pairs of lace‑trimmed drawers and a matching bodice/corset cover. During careful draping and examination, it became clear that these garments were specifically designed for pregnancy, making them an extraordinary and seldom‑seen example of Edwardian maternity wear. Surviving pieces of this type are almost never encountered in private collections or museums.

The ensemble aligns precisely with the life of Lady Gillman, born Caroline Grace Elizabeth Rube, whose first son Herbert Webb Gillman was born in 1911. Herbert later became a respected figure within the Gillman family line; his birth marked the beginning of Lady Gillman’s life as a mother within a household shaped by military prestige and Edwardian social refinement. These garments, preserved in her family trunk, likely belonged to this intimate chapter of her life.

Fine Details and Condition

The underwear set is made of soft white cotton, decorated with delicate lace, tiny ribbon accents, and original buttons, all still present. The lace and ribbons remain intact, a rare survival given the fragility of such materials. All garments show discoloration, consistent with age. The underwear would need to be washed. A few seams are open — these can be easily repaired — and one pair of drawers shows a small historic repair. Overall, the set remains in good condition, remarkable for its age and purpose.

As maternity garments were worn privately and often discarded after use, their survival is extremely uncommon. This ensemble offers a rare glimpse into the personal, domestic world of Edwardian women and their lived experiences during pregnancy.

Provenance: Lady Gillman (Caroline Grace Elizabeth Rube, 1883–1956)

Lady Gillman — born Caroline Grace Elizabeth Rube in 1883 — belonged to a London family whose social world touched the edges of the British royal household. As the daughter of Charles Ernest Rube, a well‑connected merchant of Belgrave Square, and Kate Rimer, a close friend of Queen Mary, Elizabeth grew up in an environment shaped by Edwardian elegance, philanthropy, and aristocratic sociability. Her mother’s friendship with Queen Mary was well known: the two women reportedly went antique hunting together, with the Queen expecting the shopkeeper to “donate” whatever object she fancied — a family anecdote illustrating the mixture of privilege and informality that characterised their relationship.

Elizabeth’s first marriage, in 1904, was to Leopold Stratford George Canning, 4th Baron Garvagh. The union was annulled in 1909 on the grounds of non‑consummation. Canning later became known for founding the British Fascisti in 1923, a detail that retrospectively casts a shadow over the earlier aristocratic alliance.

In 1911, Elizabeth married General Sir Webb Gillman, KCB, KCMG, DSO — a distinguished officer whose career spanned several major imperial campaigns. Through this marriage she became Lady Gillman, entering a world of military prestige and international service. The birth of her son Herbert Webb Gillman that same year situates this maternity underwear precisely within her personal timeline.