garters

Summary

Pair of silk bands composed of various small joined pieces of silk in pinks and blues, some plain silk, some silk figured with silver thread, some silk ribbon; padded and backed with pink and blue finely corded silk ribbon with buttonholes at one end (parallel to length); long ribbon at each end to tie round leg, one pink, one blue, pleated to each end.

Display Label

At many periods in the past, fragments of costly fabrics such as silk damasks and brocades were not wasted, but used to decorate small accessories like shoes, purses and even, as in this case, garters. Because silk was so expensive, the mantua-maker or dressmaker earned a valuable perquisite by keeping small pieces left over after she had made up the dress for her client. These snippets were sold on, either to other artisans like shoemakers to cover shoes, or to amateur needlewomen to decorate home-made gifts. In this case, bits of several different silk and metallic brocades and ribbons in pink, blue and silver have been applied to trim a garter, which was probably given as a present to a sister or mother. Garters like this were essential to tie the stockings in place, and although never on show, they were often decorated.