Message on a bottle



      I've got a real soft spot for Victorian advertising, a point in time when everything was new and seemed to offer you better health, a better shape or look and a much improved lifestyle. The Boss and I found this piece of period marketing for corselets on an earthenware scent bottle when we were out and about in West Norfolk and we were so intrigued we bought it for five pounds.



      Maybe it was a little racy in its day but the lady wearing the reinforced underwear illustrated on the bottle cannot have been comfortable in any way. Where does the name "Khiva" come from? It sounds like the name of an Indian goddess so maybe the product name gave the garment an air of mystery, exotica and Empire. In fact Khiva is in Uzbekistan on the Silk Road so that all makes perfect sense.



      As always I love the type and the illustration and the extravagant claims made for the product and all on a dressing table scent bottle specially made for 'Domestic and Married Ladies'. What was a 'Domestic Lady'?
      Those thrilling days of yesteryear, just brilliant.


Comments

  1. Makes me wince just reading it TT - the pain!

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  2. Dickie, We know how to enjoy ourselves on a wet winter's weekend in West Norfolk. Good to hear from you too. Best wishes, John

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