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Image Not Available for Girl's Stays
Girl's Stays
Image Not Available for Girl's Stays

Girl's Stays

Dateabout 1775-1780
MediumHand-stitched linen and leather, with baleen and wood boning
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (length x width): 12 x 25 1/2in. (30.5 x 64.8cm)
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
DescriptionPlain linen stays for a girl. The center panel is triangular-shaped, and the bottom edge is tabbed. The top and bottom edges are bound with soft leather. The stays are constructed of eight separate panels, which are then whipstitched together. Each panel is stitched with vertical rows to act as casing for the baleen boning. The edges of the back openings are reinforced with a narrow dowel-like piece of wood. These edges are worked with eyelets for a spiral lacing. The lining is plain linen like the front fabric.
Object number1983.162.6
On View
Not on view
Mrs. Caroline Ruder
about 1775
Misses Keefe Robes
about 1885
Mary Jane Buel
about 1890-1895, altered from earlier dress
Sarah Ann Kinne
1849, with later alteration
Elizabeth Gay Sisson
about 1887