Physical description

Busk of carved wood, curved in two directions, with inscription on reverse, and date and carvings of hearts and other motifs on the rounded front. With a narrow lip at both ends, rounded at the smaller end, with a double bow at the other end.

Place of Origin

England (made)

Date

1675 (made)

Artist/maker

Unknown

Materials and Techniques

Wood, carved

Marks and inscriptions

'WONC A QVSHON I WAS ASKED WHICH MAD ME RETVRN THESE ANSVRS THAT / ISAAC LOVFED RABEKAH HIS WIFE AND WHY MAY NOT I LOVE FRANSYS'
Once a question I was asked, which made me return these answers: that Isaac loved Rebekah, his wife, and why may not I love Fransys?
Inscription incised into surface of busk back

'GENSIS XXIIII VERS 67 (1675)'
Genesis 24, verse 67: "And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death." (King James Bible)

Dimensions

Length: 38.7 cm, Width: 2.6 cm wide end, Thickness: 9 mm maximum

Descriptive line

Stay busk, carved wood with inscription on reverse and various motifs including hearts on the rounded front, made in England, 1675

Materials

Wood

Techniques

Carving

Categories

Fashion; Clothing; Accessories; Underwear; Woodwork; Europeana Fashion Project

Collection

Furniture and Woodwork Collection