Measurements:

29" bust / 24" waist

A rare and lovely 18th century young Ladies' Stay

(or corset as we now call them)

I acquired this stay at an auction by Eldred's auction house with a number of other items said to be from the Coffin family estate in New England. It appears that at some point this stay was displayed in some sort of museum setting, though I know not where. All of the items I purchased at the auction came with the tags and cards from that display. There is a label attached that says it was "worn by a Mrs. Hanscom of Cambridge, MA in 1775. Presented by Alice M. Hanscom, 1895." I would personally agree with dating this corset as a common variety of 18th century stay and it appears to be completely authentic to me.

Stay is entirely hand sewn of (what appears to be) two layers of course linen with strips of baleen for the boning (there is nothing of metal at all in the corset, I tested with a magnet). Edges are bound in cream leather and eyelets are hand bound as well. The eyelets are in wonderful condition with no rips or misshaping. There is slight glue staining on the side where it appears a label may have once been.

I have noticed a slight asymmetry to the stay, one underarm being cut lower than the other and other more slight variations. I assume this was customized to the young Lady for whom it was made or perhaps is simply the nature of a home sewn garment such as this?

Honestly, this web site is a bit expensive.

If you found it helpful and would like to send a donation I would greatly appreciate any amount.

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