Costume, Undergarment - The Réjane Ribbon Corset | B. Altman and Co., New York | American
1896 – 1903 (Date manufactured/created)
1900s (Date manufactured/created)
1890s
1900s (Date manufactured/created)
1890s
Satin, Whalebone, Metal
Learn more about this dress in our historic fashion newsletter, Costume in Detail: https://www.madisonhistory.org/historic-fashion-newsletter/
Named after the French stage actress Madame Rejane, many commercial products, among other things, were named the "Réjane." B. Altman and Co., based out of Nineteenth Street and Sixth Avenue, advertised their corsets out of publications like the New York Times and Harper's Bazar. This "The Rejane" corset, along with this B. Altman and Co. corset from the MET are very similar.
The corset is made from cream colored satin grosgrain ribbons. They are secured by 6 panels of 3 bones at the side front, side, and center back. The 5-buttoned busk at center front is topped with a bow and faced with white plush. It is slightly curved at the belly and a large hook is sewn to the busk to secure the lacing. The corset is laced with 28 metal eyelets and a silk lace at center back, and is secured with an extra bone. The top is decorated with lace and ribbon, and garter straps with bows hang from the front. It is likely this corset was never worn due to the unused lace.
The bones are printed with "THE RÉJANE," "REAL WHALEBONE," and "5 / 21" on the inside. The metal garter clips read "Lindsay / August 8. 93 / Pat. July 2. 95 / Felt Finish." The latter is a hose supporter, or garter, that used a self-locking loop mechanism that gained popularity in 1903 (despite its previous availability). They were made by C.J. Hadley & Co.
Find a pattern for a very similar corset Genesee County Village and Museum: https://www.gcv.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1898-1905-Ribbon-Corset-PDF.pdf
Condition: excellent. OL 11 1/4" at center front; 7 1/2" at center back.
Named after the French stage actress Madame Rejane, many commercial products, among other things, were named the "Réjane." B. Altman and Co., based out of Nineteenth Street and Sixth Avenue, advertised their corsets out of publications like the New York Times and Harper's Bazar. This "The Rejane" corset, along with this B. Altman and Co. corset from the MET are very similar.
The corset is made from cream colored satin grosgrain ribbons. They are secured by 6 panels of 3 bones at the side front, side, and center back. The 5-buttoned busk at center front is topped with a bow and faced with white plush. It is slightly curved at the belly and a large hook is sewn to the busk to secure the lacing. The corset is laced with 28 metal eyelets and a silk lace at center back, and is secured with an extra bone. The top is decorated with lace and ribbon, and garter straps with bows hang from the front. It is likely this corset was never worn due to the unused lace.
The bones are printed with "THE RÉJANE," "REAL WHALEBONE," and "5 / 21" on the inside. The metal garter clips read "Lindsay / August 8. 93 / Pat. July 2. 95 / Felt Finish." The latter is a hose supporter, or garter, that used a self-locking loop mechanism that gained popularity in 1903 (despite its previous availability). They were made by C.J. Hadley & Co.
Find a pattern for a very similar corset Genesee County Village and Museum: https://www.gcv.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/1898-1905-Ribbon-Corset-PDF.pdf
Condition: excellent. OL 11 1/4" at center front; 7 1/2" at center back.
81.94