This fantastic circa 1865-66 Swiss Waist is made of a checked silk. The body is lined in plain cotton and the sleeves in polished cotton.
The bottom and top edges are finished with self-fabric biased piping. The three tails at back are not piped. The tails are 6" long.
The back is three-pieced with hand sewn eyelets- 16 sets in all. The curved back edges are piped with self-fabric bias piping.The original silk lacing with metal tips is present.
The center front is boned with reed. There is also boning and the two side seams and at the four front dart, these with traditional metal boning.
The center back is 14 1/2" long including the tail. The waist is approx. 22". The center front is 10 1/2" long. The bust is approx 27".
The waist is trimmed with pinked, straight of grain trim. The trim is held on by long basting stitches. The trim stops at center front bottom. The trim is 1 1/2" wide.
The waist straps are separate constructions and 2" wide, covered with trim.
If you look closely on the lining, you can still see wrinkles caused by the wearers waist!