Small Wire Crescent Bustle Cage

VC1992159

Small Wire Crescent Bustle Cage

Small bustle cage with 2 pieces of crescent shaped wire mesh held by cotton tape, with a metal buckle closure. Black braided wire and beige cotton tapes; waistband of cotton tabby weave tape with 1 buckle closure; 2 rolls of braided wire suspended from waistband by vertical loops of cotton and tabby weave tape; ends of wire enclosed in wider metal strips covered by cotton tape.

1880 (circa)

Clothing and dress

25 inches (waist), 6.5 inches (center back length), other measurements: width= 12

Physical Object

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

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Arden Kirkland 12/09/1992

25

6.5

width= 12

25 inches (waist), 6.5 inches (center back length), other measurements: width= 12

Wilcox, The Mode in Costume illus. p.318Folger, 150, 153 (1902, 1904)Batterberry, 247

1875

1885

costume

clothing

Vassar Girls and Other Women

By the 1880's, the ideal feminine form had changed to a more slender, vertical shape, with the fullness of the skirt moved to the back and further elaborated by the hidden structures of bustle pads and cages such as 1992.158, 1992.159, and 1992.160. Legs were still completely hidden by a full length skirt wrapped and draped around the legs (unable to swing as the crinoline did). The following account of an early Vassar student reflects the extent to which modesty concerning one's legs was still an issue:
'The chairs on the platform were awfully high, my skirts were starched exceedingly stiff, and I had a terrible consciousness that I was displaying more than the tips of my slippers. I couldn't make any change of position then so I didn't stir while the President made his opening prayer. Then came my show...…I got back to my seat safely, my train behaving like an angel and never turning ovcr or under once during the whole evening, but when I sat down my dress would not stay down, so I finally grew hardened and concluded to appear as if that were the way I 'always came down stairs.' To relieve your shocked feelings I will comfort you as the girls afterwards comforted me with assurances that there was nothing objectionable in view from even the nearest part of the audience.' (letter from Mary S. Morris to Mithery on May 20,1880).

very good

1 end of waistband very frayed

A1

By the 1880's, the ideal feminine form had changed to a more slender, vertical shape, with the fullness of the skirt moved to the back and further elaborated by the hidden structures of bustle pads and cages such as 1992.158, 1992.159, and 1992.160. Legs were still completely hidden by a full length skirt wrapped and draped around the legs (unable to swing as the crinoline did). The following account of an early Vassar student reflects the extent to which modesty concerning one's legs was still an issue:
'The chairs on the platform were awfully high, my skirts were starched exceedingly stiff, and I had a terrible consciousness that I was displaying more than the tips of my slippers. I couldn't make any change of position then so I didn't stir while the President made his opening prayer. Then came my show...…I got back to my seat safely, my train behaving like an angel and never turning ovcr or under once during the whole evening, but when I sat down my dress would not stay down, so I finally grew hardened and concluded to appear as if that were the way I 'always came down stairs.' To relieve your shocked feelings I will comfort you as the girls afterwards comforted me with assurances that there was nothing objectionable in view from even the nearest part of the audience.' (letter from Mary S. Morris to Mithery on May 20,1880).