1820's Stays dyed blue

 

From the seller:

Item specifics

Seller Notes

“Structurally sturdy with age-related foxing, 4 missing grommets at the bottom. The bottom 2 holes have torn through to the edge. Some wear to the right armhole and shoulder seam. Very suitable for study and display. Not wearable. Look at photos carefully.” 

Chest Size

28 inches

Occasion

GEORGIAN

Waist Size

19.75 inches

Decade

Pre 1890

Color

Blue

Material

Cotton

Size (Women's)

PS

Brand

Antique

Size Type

Petites

Original/Reproduction

Original

Style

Corset

Hip Size

28 inches

Look

Victorian

Country/Region of Manufacture

Unknown

Item description from the seller

This is a very charming 1820s corset. It is not boned, just made of sturdy cotton twill in white and blue creating this beautiful, soft denim-blue. Denim was produced for centuries before "jeans" as we know them began to be produced in the mid-nineteenth century. I won't call this fabric denim BUT it IS a cotton twill in this beautiful blue. Maybe it is an early version. Lined in robust cotton with a tabby weave (canvas?), The corset is wonderfully hand-sewn. The interior side-seams are amazingly beautiful. It is pieced, indicating a resourceful maker. I count 12 pieces of the blue fabric alone. Look closely at the upper back photos to see the piecing. There are 16 bone grommets. The last two photos show the corset laced up- Don't mock my technique. I worked with what I had. The lacing I used is not included.

*Condition: Structurally sturdy with age-related foxing, 4 missing grommets at the bottom. The bottom 2 holes have torn through to the edge. Some wear to the right armhole and shoulder seam. Very suitable for study and display. Not wearable. Look at photos carefully.

* Measurements are provided for display only.  28" chest, 19.75" waist, 28" hip. These are approximate.

*Please ask all questions before bidding- Thank you!

From Me:

1820s stays are pretty distinctive in themselves.  Metal grommets weren't invented until 1828 so bone grommets make perfect sense.  The dye is likely indigo as it was the cash crop at the time.  

Light Colored 1890's Day Dress

From the seller:


1890's 2-PC WALKING OUTFIT SATIN HIGH NECK PUFFED SLEEVES MUSEUM DE-ACCESSIONED









A regal 1890's satin 2 PIECE walking suit, having a high necked beaded trimmed collar and and wonderful large puffed sleeves.

Recently de-accessioned from the Metropolitan museum of Art in New York City. The gown still retains it's original Museum ID catalog string tag and sewn in tags.

No designer label.
The bodice is accented with cream colored sheer organdy with black leaves design, found on collar, front insert and on sleeves. The bodice is lined with white silk and with 13 covered whale bone baleen stays and has front hook and loop closure.

The skirt closes by hooks and loops at the back and is poor/fair condition. Its silk lining has a added wide net lace dust ruffle at hem. Inside of skirt has ties to adjust fullness bustle effect. The hem has a wire inserted around perimeter added for fullness at base. The back is accented with a large satin bow and the skirt is gathered into numerous pleats that makes for a nice fall.

Condition: The outfit is in fair/good condition for its age. The bodice lining has begun to shred. No underarm staining. The organdy has begun to split.

The skirt lining is in the beginnings of shredding. The outside satin of skirt has begun to split in one area as seen in last photos. Two small water stains in front from my iron spitting.

MEASUREMENTS

Jacket: Bust: 35", Waist: 32", Across back shoulders seam to seam 12",
Shoulder to jacket hem: 46",
Sleeve length: 23" with cuff turned up. Shoulder to bodice hem 18", Shoulder to hem front 58", Shoulder to hem back
Skirt: Waist 31-1/2",
Front length 40-1/2",
Back length 44-1/2".

A truly grand outfit. A great display outfit and worthy of repair. Antique clothing should not be worn



From Me:

1895 Fashion Plate

I think it's a couple years later than the seller believes - mostly due to the ribbons on the shoulders which were popular later. Really, the next time I see some of that fabulous summer scarf making material, I might consider it for a dress like this instead. :-)

1830's Riding Habit Waistcoat (?)

From the seller:



picture
Victorian Women's French Toile Blue Print Linen Double Breasted Waistcoat Vest

1860-1960 One hundred years of fashion & accessories
Picture

This antique Victorian era women's French toile blue print linen double breasted waistcoat vest dates from the late 19th century. It is made of an off white, blue French Toile de Jouy floral botanical print linen fabric, with a grayish blue trim edging. There is an off white cotton linen fabric backing and inside lining. This wonderful women's waistcoat vest has a late 18th century gentlemens French waistcoat style which is longer in the front with peplum skirted panels, faux pockets, a fitted waist, fold over collar and is double breasted with matching fabric covered buttons for closure on the front. The vest measures 25 inches long in the front, 15 inches long in the back, with a 36 inch bust and 24 inch waist. It is in good as-is condition, with a few faint small stains, some fraying along the blue trim edging and a small frayed hole on the bottom front panel (see close-ups). This is truly a rare and unique piece of womens wearable antique Victoriana!



From Me:
UGH! Ignoring the "wearable" part for now - this isn't even Victorian. Oh yes, at first blush, it looks like it could be 1870's but look at the way the shoulders are cut. Look at how high the waistline is in the back. Also check out the close up of the fraying - the twill is handstitched on!

Then there is the fabric itself...that's what the big clue was. Yes, fabric is often reused but look:

1825 Fabric from the Winterthur Museum

1830s print from the Spencer Museum of Art via Barbara Brackman's Blog

1825-1830 via Utah Quilt Appraiser

Okay, so the fabric is from the 1820s/1830s but we see fabric reused all the time. Going back to the cut, I looked up riding habits of the time and was not disappointed.

The above 1830's Riding habit hints at the waistcoat underneath but I wanted to see if there was one that showed a similar waistcoat.

1836/7 fashion plate from the V&A

Although the back of the blue riding habit has the same lines as the back of the waistcoat, there aren't any easily visible waistcoats on the ladies. However, all the men do have the double breasted style very similar to this extant one.

There aren't any fashion plates from the 1830's that show a riding habit with a waistcoat (the funny thing is that you see them in both the 1820's and the 1840's) but the cut, particularly at the shoulders, is so very 1830's, that the latest I'd put this is about 1842.

Post American Civil War Bodice

From the seller:


This Civil War bodice is made from an iridescent green silk taffeta. It has pretty cord covered buttons and is trimmed with emerald green satin piping. It's lined in brown cotton and has light boning. It has dropped shoulders with piping around the armhole seams. It has some green spots and the tulle ruffle around the wrists should be removed, very, very small, light under arm fade under one arm, but overall excellent. It measures 33 inches around the bust, waist is 23, across the back shoulder is 13 and is 15 inches long. The name Ristine is printed on the back neck.





From Me:

1868 Fashion Plate

My guess is this bodice might even be a bit earlier than the fashion plate but it's post American Civil War either way. The shortness of the bodice gives that away as well as the trim lines - which just came into fashion as the Civil War was ending.

Turn of the Century Dress and Dolman!

From the seller:

ANTIQUE/VINTAGE 1890'S DRESS AND CAPE. AS YOU SEE IN THE PICTURES IT NEEDS RESTORED. WELL WORTH THE TIME.


From Me:

1899 Fashion Plate

I wanted to include this fashion plate because the sleeves are similar - it has a bit of the flare of the extant gown at the cuff but, really, the almost extinct puff at the armscye is still there.

What I love about this is that it's probably for a slightly older lady who wanted the fashions of ten years ago but to still look fashionable in the very late 1890's as well. The dolman went out of style in the late 1880's but this one is cut to the cape like fashion of the turn of the century. 

Overall, it's a pretty fun outfit.