Korsetovertrek van machinale kant met rozenknoppen c. 1910

Curator: This delicately crafted piece is a corset cover made from machine-made lace, dating back to around 1910. Its anonymous creator used a repeating pattern of rosebuds. Editor: Isn't it dreamy? Like a cloud spun into shape. It evokes such a delicate, ephemeral feeling, almost as if it could dissolve if you breathed on it. Curator: That’s interesting, considering the garment's purpose. Corset covers, made increasingly of machine-made lace like this one after industrialization, protected outer clothing from the rigid, often whalebone, structure of corsets. So, a practical item masquerading as something romantic. Editor: Precisely! This tension between practicality and adornment is captivating. It's interesting that the repetition creates a seemingly endless field of floral forms, making you consider the repetitive, perhaps monotonous labor involved in producing this seemingly "delicate" piece. Curator: It does invite that contemplation, doesn’t it? Machine-made lace democratized fashion, bringing elaborate designs to a wider consumer base, yet often at the expense of garment workers. It also demonstrates how fashion at the time had changed, and with the rise of manufacturing meant clothes could also become fashionable a lot quicker than it once was, resulting in more disposable items and more frequent seasonal rotations in a wardrobe. Editor: Right, and that paradox fuels its intrigue! Think of the unseen hands operating those machines, and also those who bought the garment itself, weaving narratives into the very fabric, layer upon layer of roses on top of human effort, encased within undergarments to begin with. What could those stories tell? Curator: Indeed, it becomes a poignant reminder of the complex relationship between artistry, labor, and consumption that still reverberates today. It truly demonstrates how all consumer goods are born and bought, often without much insight into their full past. Editor: For me, viewing an artifact like this encourages imagination, as I now feel the spirit of these roses dancing. Perhaps they carry whispers of love letters or forgotten secrets in the seams. Thank you. Curator: An eloquent reflection; I’ll remember your perspective from now on.