Stay

Description:

This entirely hand stitched corset is made from coarse cellulose fiber over a whalebone structure. With a shallow V in front, short tabs all around, and hand finished eyelets that are long gone. Notice that there are no straps and the linen lining is crudely stitched over front and back. Behind the design is a more interesting tale. The story goes that during the 16th Century, after a battle in Scotland, three siblings from the Argyll clan fled to Ireland in fear of their lives. Family lore says that Martha, one of the siblings, stitched a lining into her corset to stow family gold and jewels. However, further analysis has revealed that this garment was likely constructed at the end of the 18th Century.

Attribution:

Unknown

Date:

1769

Collection ID:

CCTC#1133

Notes:

Gift of Emma MacMillan, Madge M. Holloway, and Kathleen M. McCool

Exhibit tags:

Garments