CORSET

Description: CORSET IS PINK. MAIN PART OF CORSET IS MADE OUT OF A STRETCHY MATERIAL. HAS TWO SEAMS DOWN EACH THE FRONT AND BACK. TOP OF CORSET IS MADE OUT OF 9.8CM WIDE, BEIGE LACE. ON CENTER BACK THERE IS A GAP IN LACE WITHIN WHICH ARE FOUR HORIZONTAL STRIPS OF BROWN AND PINK MATERIAL. UNDERNEATH BEIGE LACE IS A ROW OF SMALL PINK AND GREEN EMBROIDERED FLOWERS. THERE ARE TWO PINK STRAPS AT TOP OF CORSET; THEY ARE ATTACHED TO BACK AND BUTTON IN FRONT. A WHITE TAG ON INSIDE BOTTOM OF CORSET WITH PURPLE EMBROIDERY, READS "SHEATHALO REGD 32 BUST MADE IN ENGLAND". A SMALLER TAG NEXT TO THIS ONE READS "TO REPEAT PLEASE QUOTE NO P. F". BUTTONED TO BOTTOM OF CORSET ARE FOUR, ADJUSTABLE, PINK STRAPS (GARTERS). THE FREE END OF EACH STRAP HAS A METAL HOOK AND OFF-WHITE BUTTON FOR ATTACHING STOCKINGS.

History: CONSTRUCTION OF CORSET SUGGESTS 1920S ORIGIN; HAS NO BONING. DONOR IS A HIGH SCHOOL PHYS. ED. TEACHER. SHE DID DRAMA IN SCHOOLS AND LOCAL THEATRE, AND ENTIRE COLLECTION WAS GIVEN TO HER BY LOCAL PEOPLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DONOR GAIL HOLLAND’S ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND GENERAL USE OF HER 1999-DONATED COLLECTION PLEASE REFER TO RECORD P19990053001. ***UPDATE: ARTIFACT INSIGHT BELOW SUBMITTED BY DONOR AND COLLECTIONS VOLUNTEER GAIL HOLLAND ON 19 APRIL 2011. “CORSET CONSTRUCTION, WITH NO BONING, SUGGESTS 1920S ORIGIN. IT SERVED AS A REFERENCE FOR POSSIBLE COSTUME REPRODUCTION-WHICH DID NOT CONSTRICT THE WAIST, YET FLATTENED THE CHEST, IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A MORE GIRLISH FIGURE. “