1860's civil war swiss waist velvet

 Victorian 1860s Swiss Waist Velvet Corset

From the Seller
Antique Victorian circa 1860s midnight blue velvet Swiss waist corset. It is quite possible this is a back lacing corset....or maybe front....we don't know! Lined in brown linen. Fair condition with missing boning at center of corset, worn edges, a small fragment of velvet missing at lower front, fragile around lacing holes, a couple of the pieces of the boning is shorter than the full length, general signs of wear and use as shown. May have imperfections not noted or recognized. Sorry, but the camera tends to make dark velvets look linty when they actually are not.... A rare find! Consider for mannequin display or wearing carefully. Lace included is a replacement. Fit is an XXS to XS.

24" across

12" long at lacing edge

7-1/2" at shortest length

From the Industrious Lady

The finishing on this swiss waist looks similar to a modern couture edging finish used to create a smooth edge. It is made by sewing a piece of  bias right side to the right side of the fashion fabric edge and then flipped so wrong side are together, and the shorter strip is tacked down to the lining. it gives a nice clean edge and gives strength to the garment.I used this technique on the shot silk corset. This is the first time I've seen it on an 1860's piece; most use piping as the finish.