Stomacher

A stomacher was an essential accessory in women’s fashion in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It consisted of shaped piece of fabric, usually triangular, which filled in the gap between the fronts of a woman’s open gown. Stomachers were often richly embellished to contrast with the fabrics and decoration of the gown.

This stomacher is embroidered in a technique known as blackwork, with a single colour of silk, usually black, but also sometimes blue, red or, green, on linen. Blackwork was particularly popular for dress accessories such as handkerchiefs, coifs, caps, shirts and smocks.

The pattern reflects the strapwork designs of the 16th century. The simple speckling may be a transition from the repeating geometrical stitches of the 16th century to the subtle speckling stitch of the 17th century, imitating the shading of woodblock prints. However, the shape of the stomacher corresponds with fashions of the period 1605 to 1610.