Tan Cream Striped Horsehair Cotton Crinoline Petticoat

Victorian Early / Crinoline · 1840s · American or European

A mid-19th century crinoline petticoat constructed from horizontal bands of woven horsehair and cotton in alternating tan and cream stripes. The garment features a fitted waistband with drawstring closure and expands dramatically to create the characteristic bell silhouette of the 1840s-1860s. The horsehair provides structural rigidity while remaining lighter than earlier methods of achieving volume. Brown cotton tape reinforces the waistband and ties. Multiple horizontal channels created by the striped weaving distribute weight evenly and maintain the dome shape essential for supporting the era's wide skirts.