Bodice thumbnail 1
Bodice thumbnail 2
+66
images
Not on display

Bodice

1630-1639 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the 1630s, women’s fashions featured high waistlines and short full sleeves set deep into the back of the bodice. This bodice demonstrates that slashing, popular in the 16th century, continued well into the 17th century. The satin has been deliberately cut in regularly placed wavy lines, and its edges cut into scallops. The bodice has a boned foundation of canvas and buckram on the inside, which laces at the front. Although only the bodice of this outfit now survives, it would have been worn with a petticoat and the ensemble completed with stomacher, lace ruff and cuffs.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk satin, silk taffeta, canvas, buckram and whalebone, handsewn
Brief description
Woman's bodice, English, 1630s, oyster-coloured satin, slashed and scalloped
Physical description
Ivory satin, slashed, with internal foundation of buckram and linen, reinforced with whalebone, lined with silk taffeta.
Dimensions
  • Approx. length: 42.5cm
  • Approx., overall width: 88.0cm
Object history
This bodice was acquired as part of the Isham Collection
Summary
In the 1630s, women’s fashions featured high waistlines and short full sleeves set deep into the back of the bodice. This bodice demonstrates that slashing, popular in the 16th century, continued well into the 17th century. The satin has been deliberately cut in regularly placed wavy lines, and its edges cut into scallops. The bodice has a boned foundation of canvas and buckram on the inside, which laces at the front. Although only the bodice of this outfit now survives, it would have been worn with a petticoat and the ensemble completed with stomacher, lace ruff and cuffs.
Bibliographic references
  • Costigliolo, Luca, 'Slashed satin bodice', in North, Susan and Jenny Tiramani, eds, Seventeenth-Century Women’s Dress Patterns, vol.1, London: V&A Publishing, 2011, pp.70-87
  • Rothstein, Natalie, ed, Four Hundred Years of Fashion, London: V&A Museum, 1982
  • Hearn, Karen, ed., Van Dyck & Britain, London: Tate Britain, 2009, p.128
  • Miller, Lesley Ellis, and Ana Cabrera Lafuente, with Claire Allen-Johnstone, eds. Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum, 2021. ISBN 978-0-500-48065-6. This object features in the publication Silk: Fibre, Fabric and Fashion (2021)
Collection
Accession number
172-1900

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdAugust 25, 2005
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest