Antique-Gown

Early Rococo Stays, England, ca. 1720-1740

Early 18th Century Ladies Corset or 'Stays', in fine taupe wool lined with glazed cotton, bound edges, strap shoulders, rear lacking (lacks lacing), the central point to the waist has the addition of a coarser wool reinforcement, which has been hand applied leaving it impossible to determine what there might be underneath A marvellous construction in remarkably excellent condition for age. Some nibbles to the exterior fabric in places. The shoulder straps of a dark brown cotton appear original, they match the brown edge binding in colour and at the back are inserted between the lining and the outer layer. At the front both the strap and the appropriate position on the corset are linked by a cotton braid, which threads through small holes bound by button-hole stitch in the same fashion as the back lacing holes, to tie in the appropriate position. The decoration is not included.