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Corset

1930s (made)
Artist/Maker
Richard Cooper & Co Ltd (manufacturer)
Place of origin
Ashbourne (made)

Wrap-around girdle of coutille, knitted rayon (Lastex), satin, steel boning, metal hooks and eyes.

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watch Shaping the body: from corsets to bullet-bras Eleri Lynn, author of the V&A book 'Underwear: Fashion in Detail', tells the story of shape-wear: from the steel and whalebone engineering of Victorian and Edwardian corsetry, to the breast-flattening bandeau bras worn by 1920s flappers, the bullet-bras of the 1950s, the arrival of Lycra i...

Object details

Categories
Underwear
Womenswear
Fashion
Lace
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Corset
Materials and techniques
Coutil with boning, metal, elastic and lacing
Coutil
Metal
Elastic
Boned
Lace
Brief description
Wrap-around girdle, 'Excelsior', Richard Cooper & Co, Ashbourne, England, 1930s; Coutille, elastic, satin, steel.
Physical description
Wrap-around girdle of coutille, knitted rayon (Lastex), satin, steel boning, metal hooks and eyes.
Dimensions
  • Including suspenders length: 43cm
  • Widest point on flat width: 76cm
  • Waist measured inside garment circumference: 60cm (smallest setting) (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Waist measured inside garment circumference: 62cm (largest setting) (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Waist hem length: 29cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Hip measured inside garment circumference: 78cm (smallest setting) (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Hip measured inside garment circumference: 84cm (largest setting) (Note: Measured by Conservation)
Production typeReady to wear
Marks and inscriptions
'65. Excelisor FOR VALUE CORSETRY G 205 Made in England SIZE 25' (Stamped on interior bone)
Gallery label
Excelsior, 'For Value Corsetry' This Excelisor brand corset incorporates panels of knitted Lastex yarn. The yarn is made with an extruded latex core wrapped in cotton, rayon or silk. It was hailed a miracle when it became available in 1931. The elasticated fabrics made from Lastex reduced the number of bones used in corsets and made them more comfortable to wear. Wrap-around girdle, 'Excelsior' Britain, Ashbourne, 1930s Coutille, knitted rayon elastic (Lastex) and satin, steel boning, metal hooks and eyes V&A: T.168-1998 Given by Mr Ian Chipperfield (16/04/2016-12/03/2017)
Credit line
Given by Mr Ian Chipperfield
Object history
Old store stock donated to the Museum in 1998 by Mr Ian Chipperfield.
Production
Reason For Production: Retail
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.168-1998

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Record createdFebruary 23, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O132347/corset-richard-cooper/
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