Not currently on display at the V&A

Boning

late 19th century (formed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A strip of whalebone shading from light brown to dark green, with one side smooth, the other striated


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cut from baleen
Brief description
Whalebone strip (baleen) used for dress and corset boning. Second half 19th century
Physical description
A strip of whalebone shading from light brown to dark green, with one side smooth, the other striated
Dimensions
  • Width: 6mm
  • Length: 45.8cm
Credit line
Given by Joan Kendall
Historical context
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.
Collection
Accession number
T.31-2000

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Record createdFebruary 22, 2000
Record URL
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