Bust Bodice thumbnail 1
Bust Bodice thumbnail 2
+5
images
Not on display

Bust Bodice

1820-1829 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England (made)

Bust bodice of white cotton with slightly pointed neckline and short sleeves. It is just below bust length and the ends taper and extend to a length sufficient to cross at the back and tie at the front. The seams across the breasts and the triangular panel under the arm provide additional support for the bust. There is a worked wire button and loop at the centre front bust.

Object details

Categories
Textiles
Womenswear
Underwear
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Bust bodice
Materials and techniques
Cotton
Cotton
Brief description
Bust bodice of cotton, England, 1820-1829
Physical description
Bust bodice of white cotton with slightly pointed neckline and short sleeves. It is just below bust length and the ends taper and extend to a length sufficient to cross at the back and tie at the front. The seams across the breasts and the triangular panel under the arm provide additional support for the bust. There is a worked wire button and loop at the centre front bust.
Gallery label
(2013-2015)
This is the oldest known bra in any museum collection. It was home-made in response to the new empire line fashions of the early 19th century.

The bodice shares similar characterists with some bras of the early 20th century, notably with its wrap-around ties. This coincidence of function demonstrates the need for an adjustable grip around the rib-cage, which was eventually perfected with the introduction of elastics towards the middle of the 20th century.

Bust bodice
Britain, 1820-29
Cotton, with Dorset thread button
V&A: T.341-1978



N.B. - CORRECT AT TIME THE LABEL WAS WRITTEN
(16/04/2016-12/03/2017)
An ingenious design

The cut of this homemade bust bodice reflects the high waistline fashionable in the 1820s. The bodice is front opening and may have been designed to help its wearer breastfeed. The cups were originally larger and the bodice was later altered to reduce its size.

Bust bodice
Britain, about 1820-30
Cotton
V&A: T.341-1978
Given by Mrs C Ginsburg
Credit line
Given by Mrs C Ginsburg
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.341-1978

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 createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O316198/bust-bodice-unknown/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest