Bustle Pad
ca. 1875 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The bustle appeared in the late 1860s as part of the crinolette. As dresses became increasingly curvaceous at the back, they required more artificial aids for support. By the 1870s the bustle became a separate undergarment in its own right. The new form of bustle was known as the 'tournure' or 'dress-improver', as Victorian ladies considered the word 'bustle' rather vulgar.
Bustles came in a variety of fabrics, including silk, cashmere, flannel, brightly printed cottons and horsehair. Some resembled colourful cushions, others were constructed almost entirely of steel. Bustles were often padded with horsehair or down to retain their shape and give form to the dress. Tapes secured the bustle to the body. The wearer tied them over her petticoat around her waist, hips and often under her bottom.
Bustles came in a variety of fabrics, including silk, cashmere, flannel, brightly printed cottons and horsehair. Some resembled colourful cushions, others were constructed almost entirely of steel. Bustles were often padded with horsehair or down to retain their shape and give form to the dress. Tapes secured the bustle to the body. The wearer tied them over her petticoat around her waist, hips and often under her bottom.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Printed cotton, filled with down and fastened with cotton tapes |
| Brief description | Printed cotton bustle pad filled with down, England, ca. 1875 |
| Physical description | Bustle pad made from fine cotton with a parsley pattern red ground print. It is approximately oval with a scalloped border, quilted and filled with feathers to give the necessary fullness. It is lined with maroon cotton and has waist tapes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Leech Arctic Down" (Lining printed in black) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mr E. W. Mynott |
| Summary | The bustle appeared in the late 1860s as part of the crinolette. As dresses became increasingly curvaceous at the back, they required more artificial aids for support. By the 1870s the bustle became a separate undergarment in its own right. The new form of bustle was known as the 'tournure' or 'dress-improver', as Victorian ladies considered the word 'bustle' rather vulgar. Bustles came in a variety of fabrics, including silk, cashmere, flannel, brightly printed cottons and horsehair. Some resembled colourful cushions, others were constructed almost entirely of steel. Bustles were often padded with horsehair or down to retain their shape and give form to the dress. Tapes secured the bustle to the body. The wearer tied them over her petticoat around her waist, hips and often under her bottom. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.69-1980 |
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| Record created | January 7, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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