----- Original Message -----
From: "Penny Ladnier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Historical Costume" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 4:46 PM
Subject: Re: [h-cost] iron corset
I have in my online library three images of two metal corsets for this
period in chapter 4 of the following book.
Book info:
W.B.L. (listed author),The Corset and the Crinoline: A Book of Modes and
Costumes, London: Ward, Lock, and Tyler, 1868. This book is about the
history of corsetry and crinoline.
Here is a paragraph from the book about the metal corsets from page 75:
"Several writers have mentioned the 'steel corsets' of this period, and
assumed that they were used for the purpose of forcibly reducing the size
of the waist. In this opinion they were incorrect, as the steel framework
in question was simply used to wear over the corset after the waist had
been reduced by lacing to the required standard, in order that the dress
over it might fit with inflexible and unerring exactness, and that not
even a fold might be seen in the faultless stomacher then worn. These
corsets (or, more correctly, corset-covers) were constructed of very thin
steel plate, which was cut out and wrought into a species of open-work
pattern, with a view to giving lightness to them. Numbers of holes were
drilled through the flat surfaces between the hollows of the pattern,
through which the needle and thread were passed in covering them
accurately with velvet, silk, or other rich materials. During the reign of
Queen Catherine de Medici, to whom is attributed the invention of these
contrivances, they became great favourites, and were much worn, not only
at her court, but throughout the greater part of the continent."
<snip>
On the topic of 16th century Iron corsets I have heard it said that Eleanor
of Toledo may have had an iron corset because she was very ill during the
last few years of her life and she was wasting away, because her dressmakers
couldn't take her clothes in fast enough to keep up with the disease's
progress she was given a rigid metal corset to keep the shape of her gown
even though she was several sizes smaller inside it. It came up in the
context of the new Moda di Firenze book (is that the right title?) so maybe
it's in there, then again it may have been from a different source.
Elizabeth
--------------------------------------------
Elizabeth Walpole
Canberra Australia
ewalpole[at]tpg.com.au
http://au.geocities.com/amiperiodornot/
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