It is unusual to find a stomacher with the addition of vertical side panels for lacing. English. The inked design can be seen with a strong magnifying glass.
Stomachers of triangular shape filled the bodice space on 16th to 18th century gowns. They were pinned in place with small brass pins, under the robings or side panels of the gown, which stretched from the shoulders to below the waist or to the hem. Stomachers were worn with whalebone stays which would have kept the bust flat. Often highly decorative depending on the accompanying gown and the occasion.
Cord or Italian quilting is achieved by laying cotton cording between the top layer of linen and a coarser under layer. Backstitch keeps the cord firmly in place.
A slightly curved concave top edge and with a symetrical central panel design, an opened Eastern inspired flowerhead, tulips and splayed leaves and smaller flowers, flanked by side panels of a flower and leaf meanders, ten hand embroidered buttonholes (for lacings) worked on the attach side panels, embrodiered in back stitch pale yellow silks on a linen ground, with a coarser linen backing.
13 in x 11/2 in; 33 x 29 cm longest/widest
Excellent. The lacings are missings. So hard to find items of this age in good condition.
Embroidered with white by Heather Toomer p 120.
Historical Fashion in Detail . The 17th and 18th Centuries. by Avril Hart and Susan North p 200.
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