Evening bodice, ca. 1850

Magnificent antique Victorian brocade silk evening bodice in gold and blue, ca. 1850.

A rare find! This bodice is truly beautiful, it is made of a gold coloured brocade silk with stunning floral motifs in the same colour and in very intense blue, we've never seen a colour so vibrant after more than 160 years. This is an evening bodice with dropped shoulders and short sleeves, and it closes with lacing at the back. The bodice still has the original lace, which is amazingly in one piece, not frayed, and with it's original brass tips. Be carefull with it though! The sleeves are trimmed with scalloped strips of gold and blue silk, and the bodice is boned with whale baleen, which is visible because a very tiny piece of baleen can be seen poking through at the back hem. The baleen is securely in place and not slipping out, and this is the only damage seen on this bodice, which is highly unusual for a garment of this age. Some normal age spots at the underarms (colour bleeding), no tears or brittle silk. Fully lined with linen and padded at the chest area. Extremely good condition.

It measures approx. 84 cms at the bust (armpit level), and a tiny 53 cms at the waist!