We are very nearly at the end of this epic adventure – an adventure that started in Scotland over 7 years ago and that has trickled down to London, to Cornwall and will soon be coming to Leicester too.
Centre Front Panel of the replica of K.201.5.85
The Project:
- Studying and understanding K.2015.85 – a very distinct pair of stays in the NMS collection
- Have the stays X-rayed (which took place last year, in the Spring of 24)
- Re-study the stays in the light of the X-rays (which took place last year in the Spring)
- Cross compare the stays with a very similar pair in the LACMA collection
- create replica to test out methods learnt
- dress replica with 18th c style gowns to see how the stays work with robings
Oh there are so many questions with these stays – and so many more that have popped up during the research – that IF, even just to record all the questions and possible theories that take rise from them would be a rather wordy document. And as the final report has been begun, it is indeed proving a rather worthy document.
The Stays were finished back in November 2024 and a mantua gown was started and mostly completed in December 2024, but here we are now in July 25 and the report is still in the midst of being written.
