Strip
- Place of origin:
Great Britain (formed)
- Date:
01/01/1800-31/12/1899 (formed)
- Artist/Maker:
Unknown
- Materials and Techniques:
Cut from baleen
- Credit Line:
Given by Joan Kendall
- Museum number:
T.31-2000
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Physical description
A strip of whalebone shading from light brown to dark green, with one side smooth, the other striated
Place of Origin
Great Britain (formed)
Date
01/01/1800-31/12/1899 (formed)
Artist/maker
Unknown
Materials and Techniques
Cut from baleen
Dimensions
Width: 6 mm, Length: 45.8 cm
Historical context note
From the 16th to the mid-19th century, whalebone was the primary stiffening material in the stays/corsets worn by women in Europe. Over all other materials, whalebone was preferred for its malleability, flexibility and comfort during wear. A strip such as this would be inserted into a channel stitched between two layers of linen. The number of whalebone strips used and their proximity to each other would depend upon the style and date of the stays/corset.
Materials
Baleen
Techniques
Cut
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
