Thursday, March 5, 2015

C.1750 Child's stays with detachable sleeves


Children's clothing from the 18th century is rarely found as most was worn out or discarded over the years. Fortunately this wonderful garment was saved and is a very rare example of soft stays with the original detachable sleeves.
You can see that the stays were carefully fashioned to use every bit of fabric from earlier recycled garments. The back is made from very fine silk brocade from about 1700 -1720. The front panels are made from carefully positioned brocade from about 1740-50.
The sleeves were meant to be laced at the top and buttoned below the elbow (buttons are now missing). Stays were laced up the back. Silk ribbon ties remain on the upper portion of the sleeves.
The interior of the stays and sleeves are lined with fine linen and the tabs around the hem are lined with silk. Sleeves are trimmed with the original silk fly fringe and remnants of needlerun silk lace. French or English in origin.
Measurements: 14" shoulder to hem, 24" bust, 20" waist.
From the collection of V.J. Willis

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