Date: c. late 1880s – early 1890s
Origin: United States
Fabric: Cotton sateen
Brand: P. N.
This corset is construction from two layers of fabric, with an exterior of black cotton sateen and white cotton twill lining. It is structured with a mix of steel and baleen bones. The boning is encased in external channels of black cotton sateen, with white flossing embroidery re-enforcing the top and bottom of the chanels at the front half of the corset. The top and bottom edges are decorated with a floral motif woven black and white trim, stitched over a narrow cotton twill binding.
The 4-pin front busk fastening is engraved with the ‘P N’ brand name, and is lined on the interior with a patented ‘Cork Steel Protector’ that has now largely disintegrated. The internal waist tape is printed with the brand name and style number, and is inserted with a dip at the centre front. The centre back of the garment fastens with single part eyelets and lacing, sandwiched between flat steel bones. Sadly the original garment’s laces had been lost and so were replaced with a contemporary variety for the purposes of these photos.
From the collection of Karolina Laskowska
