Gentlemen Jack question

[ThunderandPharoah]

What is that plastic thing like a shoehorn that Anne puts down the front of her dress in the opening credits?

Yes would like to know too. Imagine it is a stay of some sort to flatten down boobs or something?

Must watch out for that tonight. I thought last week was the last of the series so was delighted to see it on again tonight.

Stomach flattener I'd have thought, probably slides inside a stitch pocket in the corset.

According to Wiki it is a "busk"

The early 19th century brought a very different style of corset (still called "stays"). A return to the natural or classical form was embraced by fashion and for the first time in corset history the bust was separated. To achieve and enhance the separation of the bust the "busk" was used. The busk was essentially a large rigid "Popsicle stick" shaped bone inserted into a casing down the center front of the corset. These busks were made from either wood, ivory, bone, or baleen and were often elaborately carved and given as gifts. It was most often the only bone within corsets of this type as other required shaping was provided by cut of the pattern and enhanced with cording (cotton or similar cords within casings). The cording of the early 19th-century corsets (stays) was often very elaborate, and there are many beautiful corded stays to be found in museums.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_(corsetry)

I think they used to use whale bone to give shape. As pp said it would go down a pocket to hold you in shape.

I think it's a corset busk
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busk

It's a busk, used to keep the corset or bodice flat and rigid.

Thank you! I knew I could rely on MN to come up with the answer!

Thank you!

This has been bugging me, thank you!

It is a busk and it was traditional in Wales for one to be presented as a love token from a man to a woman I believe.

Ouch!