Date: c. 1910s
Origin: France
Fabric: Cotton twill
Brand: Unknown
A longline corset in pink cotton twill, with a decorative lace trim and silk ribbon slot detailing at the neckline. This corset’s silhouette is typical of ‘Titanic era’ fashion, with a smooth flowing line and long line. It is made with only a single layer of fabric through most of the body, with twill tape bone channels and a mix of spiral and flat steel bones. It is noteworthy that the bones do not fill the entire length of their channels and are held in place with flossing embroidery (preventing the bones from moving and reducing the likelihood of them wearing through the fabric). This gave the bottom half of the garment a little more flexibility, allowing the wearer a wider range of movement.
The corset fastens with a traditional busk closure at the centre front, with an additional hook and eye below the busk. The rear of the garment fastens with metal eyelets and cotton lacing. The corset has two suspender straps at the front, made with a decorative elastic and elaborate metal adjusters.
The corset is well worn, and has had numerous repairs throughout its life; most notably, there is some darning around the bone channels where the corset bones have worn through the fabric, despite the additional flossing embroidery that re-enforces these areas. The suspender strap elastic has long perished and no longer stretches, and much of the silk ribbon trim has shattered.
Many thanks to Fiona Ibbetson for assistance with object research.
From the collection of Karolina Laskowska
