Decorative busk Finished!!!

[izodiea]

Comments

[sewaddicted]

So pretty, and it really indicates how intimate a gift one of these was.

[izodiea]

Ya, I had heard they could be gifts, I was not really sure on historical instances though- intimate gift makes sense.

I can think of so many silly situations/jokes where lovers might exchange one they had decorated :)

[eglantine_br]

But they did decorate them, didn't they? I have seen them all done in scrimshaw. Yes indeed an intimate gift.

[izodiea]

Scrimshaw, is that a type of decoration?
The weirdest, and probably my favorite ones I saw were harbor scenes complete with docks and boats.

[eglantine_br]

Yes, scrimshaw is carving and decoration of whale-bone or whale teeth. Whalers used to carve the leftover whale-bones into busks, mirrors, umbrella parts, etc. They gave them to wives, girlfriends when they got back.

[izodiea]

That also probably explains all the boat related imagery!

[dawnluck]

It’s probably not any more crazy that wearing lacy underwear with silk ribbon trim. Or in more modern terms: that wonderful lace trimmed lime green or eggplant purple bra that they sell in Victoria’s Secret.

Your busk is really, really beautiful! You did an amazing job. You should be really pleased! :o)

[izodiea]

Maybe crazy isn't the right word I should have used, because I totally get the wearing fancy under-wear thing.
I am highly amused by the russian-nesting doll situation of fancy period underwear. It's absurd from a purely practical standpoint, and inwardly (being a virgo/leo) I have a giggle fit.

And thank you, I am glad you like it! I hope to see other people's decorated busks posted on the RSA boards in the near future! I was surprised not to find many modern ones in my research stage.

[rose_bertin]

But that's the point! It's something special and beautiful and only you know about it. Well, only you knew about it in the regency period. Now you could simply pull it out and show everyone or put up pictures on your livejournal.

[izodiea]

I wonder how many ladies in the regency period had a private giggle about their new underwear at the dinner table. I know I have read somewhere that sometimes they would remove the busk after eating (Either after, or during) If that is true I wonder if busks were a less taboo subject than corsets themselves??

Now you could simply pull it out and show everyone or put up pictures on your livejournal. Or in person! Last dance I was at someone asked to see my corset, we huddles over in a corner and facing a wall I pulled up my dress skirt (I was still wearing a petticoat and smock.) I am sure it must have looked odd... :)

[mutive]

Oh, wow, these are absolutely gorgeous. I'm amazed at your patience. ;)

[izodiea]

Thanks! I am kinda bummed I don't have any regency events coming up in the near future.

The entire process went much faster than I originally anticipated. I probably spent more time reminding myself to work on it than it took to mark and burn.