Corset Shield thumbnail 1
Corset Shield thumbnail 2
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Not on display

Corset Shield

ca. 1911-14 (made)
Artist/Maker
William Pretty & Son (maker)
Place of origin
Ipswich (made)

Cotton corset shield with 'zairoid' metal strips.

Object details

Categories
Accessories
Underwear
Womenswear
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Corset shield
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Corset Shield
  • Corset Shield
Materials and techniques
cotton and metal
Cotton
Metal
Stamping
Brief description
Pair of corset shields, made by William Pretty & Son, Ipswich, for export to France ca. 1911-14.
Physical description
Cotton corset shield with 'zairoid' metal strips.
Dimensions
  • Height: 202mm
  • Width: 100mm
Marks and inscriptions
'The 'OKTIS' Shield. / Importe d'Angleterre / Supports en Zairoide / ne rouillant pas. / Le fixer en cousant sur les traits ..... / Ne pas arreter les extremites des baleines' (Stamped in blue on the back and with the trademark 'P S' with a star between; the letters are linked with a ribbon.)
Gallery label
(16/04/2016-12/03/2017)
'Double the life of your corsets'

William Pretty & Son, who manufactured the Oktis corset shield, claimed the shield would 'double the life of your corsets'.

The shield was tacked to the inside waist of the corset where the bones were most prone to break. Its strength came from strips of 'zairoid', a metal which the manufacturers claimed was rustproof and as flexible as steel.

'Oktis' corset shield made for export to France and packaging fragment
William Pretty & Son
Britain, Ipswich, about 1911-14
Metal ('zairoid') and cotton
V&A: T.431&A-1985
Given by Philip Weston
Credit line
Given by Philip Weston
Object history
One of a pair with T.431-1985 and T.431A-1985.
Associated object
T.431B-1985
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.431-1985

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O293493/corset-shield-william-pretty/
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