1890's Brown Bodice and Skirt

From the seller:

This auction is for a majestic, true antique 1800's ladies corset jacket with matching hoop skirt....in excellent, wearable condition!

Straight from a most prestigious Vermont estate with family tree provenance. Beautiful weight deep bronze silk taffeta ensemble with elegant ruched trim, pleating, decorative bows and high wired collar. Ruffled neckline and bodice front. A total of nine fine corset stays sewn within the fully lined bodice.

Beautiful highly puffed sleeves with tapered wrists. Expertly V pleated jacket back. Bustle back dropped V with gathered bow on jacket back. Closes with early hook and eye closure up the bodice front. The matching crinoline hoop skirt flows beautifully with it's draping front panel. It is fully lined in polished cotton with a banded lower hemline dust ruffle. Early button closure in back with large pleating to accommodate a wire cage bustle . Just a most majestic 1880's Victorian dress for serious collectors. The only flaws to note is that the lining on either side of the hook & eyes needs restoration or reinforcement as it has weakened and torn...this is the polished cotton lining...not the dress fabric!

This gorgeous set measures as follows:

Jacket

Bust: 32 inches

Waist: 24 inches

Underarm to sleeve end: 18 inches

Underarm to waist: 9 inches

Skirt

Waist: 24 inches

Side seam: 44 inches

A must see antique dress~!


From Me:

The hoop skirt doesn't match. It looks completely out of place. Also NOT A BUSTLE. The large point in the back should have been a clue that this can't accommodate a bustle. Hook and eye closures have been around since at least the 1400's (probably earlier! I just haven't investigated further than that) so I have no idea what the seller means about "early" either. I think the ancient Egyptians had buttons. Probably the Babylonians too.

And it's 1890's. Those sleeves give that away.