Stays thumbnail 1
Stays thumbnail 2
+7
images
Not on display

Stays

1780-1789 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the 18th century, women’s stays served to mould the torso to the fashionable shape and provide a rigid form on which the gown could be arranged and fastened. Because they were underwear and therefore never seen, stays were usually made of plain linen, but this example provides a colourful and luxurious alternative.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silk, linen, baleen; hand-woven damask weave, hand-sewn
Brief description
Woman's stays 1780s, British; Crimson silk damask, partially boned, back lacing
Physical description
Woman’s stays of crimson silk damask, lined and interlined with linen and reinforced with baleen. They are back-lacing with a high narrow back, a wide, decolletage and a point in front, about 4 inches (10 cm) below the natural waist. The stays are cut in 8 pieces and partially boned in stitched channels about 3/16-inch (4 mm) wide, the baleen extending into the skirts below the waist. There are 7 horizontal boned channels at the neckline and a ⅜-inch (5 mm) wide, boned channel on each side of the centre front. A 3/16-inch (4 mm) wide white silk twill ribbon covers the seams. The neckline, armholes and edges of the skirts are bound with white silk grosgrain ribbon. The stays are laced through 12 eyelets on each side at centre back arranged asymmetrically. The shoulder straps, each with an eyelet, extend from the front and fasten to a pair of eyelets at each back shoulder.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31cm (approx)
  • Overall, flat length: 59cm (approx)
  • Waist measured inside garment circumference: 60cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Overall, flat width: 76.5cm (approx)
  • Bust measured inside garment circumference: 84.5cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Nape waist length: 39cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
Gallery label
(2013-2015)
In her 1778 novel, The Sylph, Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire wrote: 'Poor Winifred... broke two laces in endeavouring to draw my new French stays close... Then they are so intolerably wide across the breast that my arms are absolutely sore with them; and sides so pinched! But... to be admired, is a sufficient balsam'.

Half-boned stays
Britain, 1770s
Silk damask, buckram and whalebone, lined with linen
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.
V&A: T.909-1913
(16/04/2016-12/03/2017)
Silk Stays

These stays are reinforced with parallel strips of whalebone along the upper edge, making them very wide across the breasts. The Duchess of Devonshire (1757-1806) complained in a letter from 1778 that a similar corset cut into her body and made her arms sore, 'But it is the 'ton' [fashion]; and pride feels no pain.'

Stays
Britain, 1775-85
Silk damask, buckram interlining, whalebone (baleen), linen lining
V&A: T.909-1913
Given by the Messrs Harrods
Credit line
Given by Messrs Harrods Ltd.
Summary
In the 18th century, women’s stays served to mould the torso to the fashionable shape and provide a rigid form on which the gown could be arranged and fastened. Because they were underwear and therefore never seen, stays were usually made of plain linen, but this example provides a colourful and luxurious alternative.
Collection
Accession number
T.909-1913

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 createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest