Bodice thumbnail 1
Bodice thumbnail 2
Not on display

Bodice

1740-1749 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A glistening yellow silk taffeta enhances this undecorated bodice of the 1740s. It is constructed from eight pieces of silk and has a boned centre back opening with a fly concealing the lacing. The waistline is tabbed and has a silk cord stitched along the edges of the tabs. The elbow-length sleeves have winged cuffs, pleated and stitched at the front to keep their shape. This style of cuff was fashionable in the 1740s and card or paste board were sometimes used for stiffening. A bodice of this style was worn by young girls and children, and as informal dress by adult women.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen, baleen; hand-woven, hand-sewn
Brief description
Girl's bodice of yellow silk taffeta, 1740s British; back lacing, wing cuff
Physical description
Girl’s bodice of yellow silk taffeta with a wide, shallow neckline, elbow-length sleeves with wing cuffs, and a pointed waist, front and back, with short narrow skirts below. It is cut in 4 pieces, lined with linen, then whipped together. There are 18 worked lacing holes, asymmetrically placed, on a boned lacing band on each side at centre back. A ⅜-inch (8 mm) wide yellow silk grosgrain ribbon binds the neck and skirts at the hem. The cuffs are pleated at the inside elbow, extending beyond the circumference of the sleeve. The bodice has be carefully let out at the front/side seam.
Dimensions
  • Overall length: 43.0cm (approx)
  • Bust under armholes circumference: 72.0cm (approx)
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Given by the Rev. R. Brooke
Summary
A glistening yellow silk taffeta enhances this undecorated bodice of the 1740s. It is constructed from eight pieces of silk and has a boned centre back opening with a fly concealing the lacing. The waistline is tabbed and has a silk cord stitched along the edges of the tabs. The elbow-length sleeves have winged cuffs, pleated and stitched at the front to keep their shape. This style of cuff was fashionable in the 1740s and card or paste board were sometimes used for stiffening. A bodice of this style was worn by young girls and children, and as informal dress by adult women.
Bibliographic reference
Hart, Avril and Susan North, Historical Fashion in Detail: The 17th and 18th Centuries, London: V&A Publications, 1998, p. 86
Collection
Accession number
870-1864

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 15, 2006
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest