Description
An absolutely wonderful folk art/sailor art 18thC English antique treen stay busk love token, most probably made by a sailor whilst at sea for his betrothed.
What is a stay busk?
Before 1830 corsets were called stays. They were an essential part of a woman’s undergarments, forcing the body to the fashion shape of the season. When tightened the stays could damage a woman’s body by distorting and repositioning her internal organs. Stay busks were inserted into the front of stays to flatten the wearer’s stomach. They restricted movement making it impossible to bend forward!
This example is beautifully scratch-carved to the front with two love hearts over stylised flowers and foliage. Below, the busk bears the initials “EL” and date “1781” with both elements surrounded by chip-carved decoration.
Condition – Good as per the images.
Size: Length 27 cm (10 1/2″)
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1. LAPADA (London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association) – LAPADA is the UK’s largest trade association for professional art & antique dealers (representing approximately 500 UK dealer members). All items are backed by our LAPADA guarantee.
2. CINOA – CINOA is the world association of Art & Antique dealer associations (representing 5000 dealers from 32 associations in 22 countries).
3. The Norfolk & Suffolk Antique Dealers Association.
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