#1819   Rare Corset  c. 1860

United States   

Condition: Very Good. Boning is broken in places (most notably at the waist line), button holes are worn or repaired and there is a 1.5" X .5" inch piece of fabric missing by the back left bottom lace. Lacing and possibly buttons are not original.

Measurements: Waist, 22"; Front L, 11"; Back L, 11.5".

Comments: This corset has 148 whale bones of varying lengths and widths! What I find most remarkable is the manner in which the heavy cotton was intricately woven to create the whale bone channels. The placement of these channels and the spacing in between dictate the molded shape of the wearer. For instance, in the cup areas the boning is done in three graduated fan shapes which allows for the "correct" curve of the bust.  I have spoken with many museum curators, and all agree that corsets from the mid 19th century are extremely hard to come by.  Perhaps the result of the Civil War and Reconstruction?