Corset

Bon Marché

1904–6 · cotton, metal, elastic, bone, silk · Costume Institute

A well-documented example, this corset perfectly illustrates the understructure required to accomplish the dominant S-curve silhouette of the time. It was purchased at the well-known Parisian department store Au Bon Marché in 1904. The front-lacing, as opposed to the usual back lacing, is highly unusual for this period. It became a more popular feature for corsets later in the 20th century, as it allowed a woman to put on and adjust the corset by herself.

Artist

Bon Marché

Date

1904–6

Medium

cotton, metal, elastic, bone, silk

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of E.A. Meister, 1950