Outstanding Collection Of
Carved Wooden Busks 

18th century.
All probably sailor-made as tokens of affection for the wives or sweethearts they were returning to. In this period, corsets held a rigid, removable busk, often of wood or whale bone, inserted into a center-front pocket to create a straight and upright posture. All richly hand-carved with care and affection. Excellent condition, lengths ranging from 12 ½ inches to 13 ½. Acquired long ago by an exemplary Midwest collector.

LEFT TO RIGHT:

T*ND. Dated 1784: Profusely chip carved, highlighted with a large pierced heart at top and pinwheel just below. Engraved “T*ND. 1784” on reverse, the lettering with last name followed by first initials.

MARY HARLOW: Many carved elements including three hearts at the top and many pinwheels of varying size and shapes. Engraved “MARY HARLOW” on the reverse, no doubt for whom the busk was made.

RARE MIRRORED: Crisply carved with a large heart, pinwheels, and geometrics, centered by a rarely found diamond-shaped mirror, a real prize for the lady in this period making this similar to a fragment mirror. The reverse with graphite inscriptions including “Savanah A____s wife of David ___Fellows?”

A/S*M 1784Y: Fully chip carved, engraved “A/S*M 1784Y” on reverse, the lettering with last name followed by first initials.

TREE OF LIFE/RT1781: Rare theme in the pattern of a” tree of life” capped by a large heart with two more hearts and pinwheels below.. The back engraved “RT1781”.