Stomacher, hand embroidered, silk linen

Description

18th century

This stomacher is hand embroidered with a design of your choice by myself. The stomacher can be backed with either linen or silk and embroidered using silk and linen threads hand dyed by a master dyer who uses authentic 18th century dies.

I use authentic embroidery stitches on each stomacher to make each piece shine. Colorings are usually a light background of white, cream, silver, champagne, pink, green etc with the embroidery darker, brighter colors to accentuate the hand embroidered patterns.

When ordering, please contact me first to find a pattern that suits your or your lady and ensure that I have the correct colors for the project. Or, I can draft a custom pattern just for you! I will go through the color choices to ensure that the colors are obtainable in 18th century styles. Beads, gold/silver braid, and sequins can be added for additional charges.

The stomacher is made of 3 layers. Two layers of cotton duck make the base of the stomacher. In these layers are the 3 wooden bones for added rigidity. The stomacher is attached with the tabs and straight pins - to the stays. They can also be attached with pins to the gown, taking advantage of the robings. It is designed to sit approx .5" above your stays and cover the petticoat ties at the waist.

The stomacher pictured is not for sale. This one I made for myself. It is silk thread on a silk background and the pattern is one of my own.

History:
The stomacher was an essential part of woman's gowns, from about 1570 to 1770. In its most basic form it was a long V-or U-shaped panel that decorated the front of a woman's bodice, extending from her neckline down to her waist. The stomacher could either be part of the bodice or a separate garment that fastened to the bodice with ties. The stomacher had two main purposes: to add decoration and to provide structure. Both decoration and structure changed with passing fashions over the long history of this garment.

In the late seventeenth century the stiffness returned, though the stomacher now was shaped so as to push the breasts upward in the revealing ways preferred in that age. The rigid shaping effects of the stomacher were later accomplished by the corset used in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The stomacher was generally moved from one gown to another, like a piece of jewelry. They provided an important decorative element to woman's gowns. They were often covered in a fabric that contrasted with the rest of the bodice, or complemented one of the skirts. Stomachers were often adorned with ribbons, bows, lace, or, in the sixteenth century especially, jewels. Heavily decorated stomachers became especially popular in the eighteenth century.
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Please allow for a construction period of 6 months. If this item is required sooner a rush fee of up to 25% may apply. Please inquire if you do need this item sooner and I will try to accommodate you.

Please see my other listings for everyday stomachers and other woman's items.

Added on Nov 02, 2009