Search | Sitemap | My Museum | Font Size
Return to Previous Page


  Zoom

Costume and Textiles

Stays

Probably made in England or United States

Mid- 18th century

Artist/maker unknown, American or English

Glazed wool twill, buckram, linen thread, baleen, leather, linen plain weave lining, flax fibers

Center Front Length: 13 inches (33 cm) Center Back Length: 15 1/4 inches (38.7 cm) Waist: 28 inches (71.1 cm)

Currently not on view

1903-135

Gift of Mrs. William D. Frishmuth, 1903

Gallery Label

In the eighteenth century, men fit women's stays and inserted the baleen because they were thought to have the necessary strength; the sewing, however, was done by women. The green wool of this beautifully made pair shows off the off-white stitching of both backstitched channels and the seed stitching on the hips. In the front, invisible between the buckram and lining, the hollow under the bust is filled with a wad of unspun flax fiber.

Social Tags [?]

There are currently no user tags associated with this object.

[Add Your Own Tags]

Return to Previous Page