>http://www.manchestergalleries.org/costume/object.php?irn=14962&QueryPage=i n > dex.php&themeback=2&CostumeTheme=costume%20sub-theme > > > > It is dated 1620 to 1640, but to my eye it looks a bit later. Does anyone > > on the list know anything about this garment, and about how accurately > it's > > dated?
> It looks later to me, too, but the 17th century isn't my primary area. > Heck, it almost looks 18th century-ish to me.... Nah, just look at that shoulder line;) If it's later, it's no later than 1660s or 70s. It's very similar to the pink stays at the V&A. http://images.vam.ac.uk/ Object Stays and busk Date 1660-1670 Techniques Pink watered silk (English or Italian), backed with linen, stitched with pink silk thread and reinforced with whalebone (Stays) Edged and decorated with pink silk grosgrain ribbons with tinned iron points Museum Number T.14&A-1951 http://images.vam.ac.uk/images/photo/sch/20000504/high/mb37-002.jpg http://images.vam.ac.uk/images/photo/sch/20000504/high/mb37-001.jpg http://images.vam.ac.uk/images/photo/pcd/76993272/high/2836-007.jpg These though are much narrower in the back, so these are probably of a later date than the Manchester stays. So I'm guessing the Manchester ones are no later than 1650s...? I wonder if the Manchester stays are displayed with the opening too wide at the top, thus changing the shape of them somewhat? Or if the V&A stays are displayed with the opening too close together? I adore these two sets of stays, and if I have an excuse to make a pair like them, I will;) Though I do have a question, hopefully someone where has studied the art of making stays; why is it that before the 19thC strips of baleen used for the bulk of stays were so incredibly narrow? I'm sure you get more flexibility with it but still have a very supportive garment. But is the benefit so great for so much more extra work? Was it down to the methods of cutting perhaps? Michaela de Bruce http://glittersweet.com
No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.1/369 - Release Date: 19/06/2006
_______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list h-costume@mail.indra.com http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
