The Corset Work
Upholstered Cage © 2005
Outside Cover Petticoats, front #2, #4, # 5: Antique doll petticoats, with cotton
embroidered text.
Petticoat #2
Antique white linen.
12 vintage white plastic buttons in back.
Height: 11 1/2”
Width from waist to edge closed: 5 1/2” – 17”
Width from waist to edge opened: 8 1/2” – 24”
Interior petticoat book pages
Height: 10”
Width from waist to edge: 5 1/2” – 10”
Petticoat #4
Antique off-white cotton with 2 rows of pleats and 2” hem.
11 vintage white plastic buttons in back, 2 buttons at waist.
Height: 12”
Width from waist to edge closed: 5” – 16”
Width from waist to edge opened: 11” – 26”
Interior petticoat book pages
Height: 10”
Width from waist to edge: 5 1/2– 10”
Petticoat #5
Antique white linen with 2 rows of pleats and lace around bottom edge.
12 vintage plastic buttons, with ties at waist.
Height: 11”
Width from waist to edge closed: 8 1/2” – 20”
Width from waist to edge opened: 11” – 28”
Interior petticoat book pages
Height: 10”
Width from waist to edge: 5 1/2” – 10”
If you would like any hi-res images of these photos, or if you have any questions or
comments, please feel free to contact me: tamarstone@pipeline.com
Click here: UpCageTextSpecs112905.pdf
to download the complete text and specs
Series of 5 books using unique antique doll petticoats as outside covers.
Interior pages for all 5 books are the same: digital iris printed images on hand cut
vintage cotton bed sheets.
Cotton embroidered text and trim.
Hand sewn binding with buttons attached to skirt linings with loops.
Outside Cover Petticoats, back #2, #4, # 5
Outside Cover Petticoats, front #1, #3: Antique doll petticoats, with cotton
embroidered text.
Petticoat #1
Antique white linen with notched scalloped edge.
11 vintage clear plastic buttons in back, with 1 button at waist.
Height: 10 1/2”
Width from waist to edge closed: 3 1/2” – 14”
Width from waist to edge opened: 5 1/2” – 24”
Interior petticoat book pages
Height: 8 1/2”
Width from waist to edge: 5” – 10”
Petticoat #3
Antique off-white cotton with embroidery, cutwork and scalloped edge.
12 vintage white plastic buttons in back.
Height: 11 1/2”
Width from waist to edge closed: 5” – 14”
Width from waist to edge opened: 7” – 26”
Interior petticoat book pages
Height: 9”
Width from waist to edge: 5 1/2– 10”
Outside Cover Petticoats, back #1, #3
Inside book #4, cover
Inside book #4: page 4 back (embroidered text)
page 5 front (image of woman)
Inside book #4: page 5 back (embroidered text)
page 6 front (image of girl)
Inside book #4: page 14 back, page 15 front
Images Copyright © 2013 by Tamar Stone. All Rights Reserved.
No images may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the artist.
Returning to my interest in instructional fabric books for children, I used antique doll petticoats as the cover
of these books. The title comes from the ideas that woman were held physically and psychologically in their
“cage like” crinoline clothing as well as their social sphere – their homes.
The Victorian home was often referred to the “Upholstered Cage” (at least for those who could afford help with taking care of it) where the woman was “queen” of all things occurring inside its walls (the care and feeding of
the family etc.) while the domain outside of its walls (and out in society) was reserved for men.
The images are of Victorian woman of all ages in their body–defining corsets. The text is from sales manuals for corset salesmen of the period as well as text from 20th century girdle and corset salesman pamphlets. From this text we read that “A good foundation can do such a vital job for a woman. She is eternally grateful to anyone who helps her find one…willing to pay almost any price for a garment...” And from the point of view of the wearer we learn, “Little by little, as I developed, the instrument of torture was modified and became progressively a fairly gentle mentor...”
The Upholstered Cage video
