<snip>
OK I know I'm replying to this a month late (but I just found some new
info), but if it's the pattern I'm thinking of,
http://www.originals-by-kay.com/corsetry/history/1844cors.GIF which is
also reproduced in Corsets and Crinolines then the curve at the bottom is
designed to make the busk act like the later 1870s-80s spoon busk. I was
just reading Jean Hunisett's 'Period Costume for Stage and Screen
1800-1909' and she recommends taking a tuck on either side of the bottom
of a straight busk to simulate the shaping of a spoon busk. You can change
the shape of the centre front, but (depending on your figure size and
shape) you might actually appreciate the spoon busk effect, <snip>
just after posting this I came across this patent from 1840
http://www.haabet.dk/patent/1940/index.html suggesting that the curved front
was done on more than one occasion in the 1840s, the text of the patent
(click on the link 'text page' at the bottom) says it's for pregnancy, but
the important bit is that says 'in the centre front of the corset, a wide
steel spring or busk extending to the bottom of the same' it then goes on
'The bottom of this spring or busk is curved so as to readily adapt itself
to the distended part' so it's almost an early spoon busk, and it
demonstrates that steel busks and non straight busks were used in at least
some situations.
Elizabeth
--------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Walpole
Canberra Australia
ewalpole[at]tpg.com.au
http://au.geocities.com/e_walpole/
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