c. 1900- 1905. A sporting corset made from creme colored silk and lined in white jean.
Although there are no maker's marks present, it was most likely made by Symington(Market Harborough, Leicestershire). The Symington corset collection describes the corset as being "an avant-garde design for the sportswoman, this corset includes many features and adaptations to make it suitable for riding, cycling, tennis and golf."
The corset is cut under the bust to allow the body to move with ease and cut high in the hip to allow for the correct position during side saddle riding.
The top and bottom edges of the corset are trimmed with a narrow band of Broderie Anglaise. Extremely narrow rows of cording run parallel with the top and bottom edges of the corset. The boning is whalebone and runs the full length of the corset at the sides and alongside the grommets while shorter whalebones are seen on the stomach and back side panels. These short bones along with the cording, would have given the figure the required support yet still allowed for ease of movement during sports. Stocking suspenders on this corset were kept to a bare minimum of two so that stockings could still be worn but without the constraint of additional suspenders.
The busk is perfectly straight as was fashionable during the Edwardian era. Measurements: Waist 22 1/2", Busk length 11".

From the collection of L. Hidic
corsetsandcrinolines.com

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