Date: 2014
Origin: United Kingdom
Fabric: Silk, cotton, leavers lace
Brand: Sparklewren
A bespoke creation for Elle Mosbach, named for the Swedish word ‘Tjärn’, after the deep bodies of water that inspired the dark and textured embellishment. Further inspiration was drawn from Scandinavian fairytales and the art of John Bauer, a Swedish painter renowned for his illustrations of Swedish folklore.
The corset is constructed with an exterior of grey silk and lined with cotton coutil, and is heavily structured with numerous flat and spiral steel bones. It opens with a traditional steel busk closure in the front, and eyelets and cotton lacing in the rear.
The corset is embellished with layered black and gold leavers lace appliqué, overlaid with black tulle, creating subtle shifts in texture and tone. There is extensive beading with shimmering glass seed beads across the entire body of the embellishment.
Jenni Hampshire began creating corsets under the moniker ‘Sparklewren’ in 2009. The designer’s background in Fine Art has resulted in a body of work akin to wearable sculpture. Historically inspired silhouettes and construction techniques are paired with lush, opulent embellishment and couture construction techniques. The brand specialised in one-of-a-kind heirloom garments, with each garment taking weeks of carefully considered embellishment and craftsmanship.
A pattern for this garment can be purchased here.
Kindly loaned to The Underpinnings Museum by Elle Mosbach
