Divorce

Physical description

Black machine-made lace and nylon corset with built in bra.

Place of Origin

London, England (made)

Date

ca. 1955 (made)

Artist/maker

Rigby & Peller (designer and maker)

Materials and Techniques

Machine lace, nylon, boning

Object history note

Registered File number 1994/299.

Historical context note

Rigby & Peller was opened in South Molton Street, London, in 1939. In 1960 a Royal Warrant was grated by the Queen.

They still specialise in bespoke corsetry but have expanded to include a range of high-street and ready-to-wear products.

Descriptive line

'Divorce' corset brassiere, black lace and nylon, Rigby & Peller, London, England, ca. 1955.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Lynn. Eleri. Underwear: fashion in detail. London: V&A Publishing, 2010 pp. 154-155.

Exhibition History

The Cutting Edge (Victoria and Albert Museum 01/01/1997-31/12/1997)
The Golden Age of Couture. Paris and London 1947 - 1957 (Victoria and Albert Museum 22/09/2007-06/01/2008)

Labels and date

Corset brassiere
Rigby & Peller
London
1950s

Rigby & Peller are one of the few surviving companies to still make bespoke corsetry by hand. Their chief corsetière was trained in France. [24 words]

Nylon and lace, underwired

Given by Rigby & Peller
V&A: T.634-1995 [2007]

Materials

Nylon

Techniques

Machine lace-making; Boning

Categories

Fashion; Accessories; Underwear; Women's clothes

Collection code

T&F