Another REAL Mystery!

This bodice, that goes with the brown silk skirt, is a real mystery.  The fabric is a very pretty medium woven piece. From the outside it looks like a very stylish Victorian bodice with wonderful trim and stable.  But on closer look, the fabric is really deteriorating and is very fragile.  The buttons are covered buttons and are of the fabric that makes up the brown silk skirt. 

Then, unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of the inside.  The linings are cotton, rather modern looking.  There are actually 2 linings.  One consists of all above the waist area.  And it is loose at its bottom edge. Then you notice the back seams seam to be really off.  At the waist, the back seams are at about .5" from the center seam.  There is no boning. 

Then there is the 2nd lining... it looks newer and is mainly basted in and does not attach to the top lining, there is just a loose edge.  Looks really strange.

There is lots of wear on this piece.  Stains around the neck and back, tears on the outside under each arm and middle of the back at the waist.

I'm thinking that possibly someone had started this piece long ago and finished the outside but never got to the lining.  Possibly it had sat in direct light for a long time, weakening the fabric.  Someone else years later finished the top lining and wore it, then added the bottom lining, sort of.

Anyhow it is a mystery.  I love the outside but it is so delicate.  We may display it once in a great while with the brown skirt though.