Record Number
NWHCM: 1976.351.2
Summary
Dated 1700-1799
These back lacing Stays of heavy brown leather with stomacher front are constructed from 3 main pieces joined by Streatley stitching*. The front section of the stays is very wide at the top featuring a slightly rounded neckline and tapers down at the waist. The whole stomacher is covered with panels of green linen and bordered by brown wool. The top edges are covered with linen tape. The centre back is reinforced with an extra leather strip and saddle stitched*.
The stays have 7 pairs of stamped and pressed eyelet holes Scoring on the leather is used to represent stitching down the sides and back. Tabs at the lower edge would splay out over skirts.
*Streatley stitch used to join the stay panels can be described as a combination of a backsticth and overcast stitch butting two pieces together. The stitch has a characteristic pattern of Z shapes on one side and X shapes on the other.
FURTHER READING
Leather stay related article from the Costume and Textiles Archive, Norwich here