corsets in the mid 19th century

French fashion plate 1846

These illustrations are taken from a set of charming French fashion plates which we inherited. They are firmly framed, so I have photographed them through the glass, rather than dismounting and scanning them. The originals are badly faded, but I have done my best to compensate for this.

All but the last of them bear the following caption below the illustration and are numbered, and all are drawn by A Brückner, and dated as shown.

Le Voleur

Gazette des Journaux français.

All the women are notable for their slender waists, but as this was before the era of photography the artist was unconstrained by practical considerations. These illustrations represent the ideal imagined by the fashion designers, but it is probable that few -- if any -- women of the day achieved it.

The corsets under these costumes do not appear to be markedly different from those of the first part of the century. There was probably a gradual evolution as the corset makers became more skilled, and sewing machines were used more frequently.