Metal Thread Embroidered Stomacher

Metal Thread Embroidered Stomacher, 18th century. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

Date: c. 18th century

Origin: Unknown

Fabric: Silk velvet, linen, metal cord

Brand: Unknown

 

An elaborate stomacher, with a luxurious outer fabric of black silk velvet. It has been profusely embellished with couched metal cord embroidery. It is lined with a fine linen. Encased between the fabric layers is baleen boning, which would have helped to maintain the stomacher’s structure on the body.

A stomacher is an (usually) triangular shaped panel, occasionally boned for structure, that would have been commonly worn with stays in the through the 15th to 18th centuries. Some stomachers were designed as a decorative part of outer clothing, with lavish embellishment, and would be pinned over the stays and into the outer bodice. Others could be more functional, intended to offer additional bust and stomach support, with the stays either laced over or pinned to them.

 

From the collection of Karolina Laskowska

  • Metal Thread Embroidered Stomacher, 18th century. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice
  • Metal Thread Embroidered Stomacher, 18th century. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice
  • Metal Thread Embroidered Stomacher, 18th century. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice
  • Metal Thread Embroidered Stomacher, 18th century. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice
  • Metal Thread Embroidered Stomacher, 18th century. The Underpinnings Museum. Photography by Tigz Rice

Museum number: KL-2025-012

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