Victorian silk corset

[Grover Street Girl]

I really would like some help narrowing down the approximate age of this style of corsetry.
It is blush silk with linen lining and brass hooks & eyes in the back. It also has a drawstring in the neckline. The stays are dark color & appear to be metal. Combination of machine and hand stitching.
Hand made, no label.
Also, would this be considered an underbust corset, or something else? It’s low for a brassiere, but a bit high to fit under the bosom.
Thanks!

 

[wyogems]

wow it is awesome. Every body might dump on me for this, but I think I would dye it. Sorry I can't help with date.

 

[Grover Street Girl]

I’m a bit of a purist, but it doesn’t matter anyway. The silk would never survive, it’s very brittle and is shattering.
Thanks for the thought, tho! Very creative!

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Looks mid 19th century, not sure of the decade. Maybe 1860s.

 

[Grover Street Girl]

Thank you Barbara!

 

[Jonathan]

It's a Swiss waist, not a corset. THey were worn over a dress or a garibaldi (old name for blouse) and skirt. Very popular mid 1860s.

 

[MagsRags]

It's a Swiss waist

I love this place, learn something new all the time. Jonathan. in your photo, it looks like the waist fastens up the front. Is that how this one should go?

 

[Jonathan]

SOmetimes yes, sometimes no... we have four in the museum and two of them do up at the front in an obvious way, one does up the front, but its hidden, and the other one does up the back. I think this one does up the back.

 

[Grover Street Girl]

Jonathan, thank you so much! I had such a hard time with this, so many choices, but none quite right. I’m very appreciative of the knowledge.

 

[Midge]

Ahhh... I get why it's called a Swiss waist - so many traditional Swiss costumes feature a bodice like this worn over the blouse - not just the Bernese one that we've seen a few times here in the forums before, though this is the one that crops up the most! There are different styles for different regions.