This was LITERALLY found in a treasure chest!

Well.... it was found in a chest, and it is a treasure.

This is a black silk bodice in good shape except the upper sleeves which are totally shattering.
The neckline has tapes as decoration and they have black dots sewn on them.

Below the neckline is a beautiful black lace in perfect shape.  Across the bustline there is a decoration of ribbon edged with the tape and it is held by 2 black buttons with a tiny dot in the center.

You can barely see the decoration (on the right in the photo) of a row of double stitched pleats in a balero-type look.

This picture is showing how bad the sleeves at the shoulders is totally shredding.  The rest of this bodice is in very good shape.  

The lining is black polished cotton in very good condition.  The bodice is fully boned.

This bodice I think could be conserved enough to be shown on display with the idea of showing how the bodice is put together.  We shall see.