An antique treen stay busk dated 1791. Chip carved with roundels, goblets, a wheel of fortune, key hole and a key - 'to my heart'. On the reverse is the name Mary carved and the date 1791 again.
Slight loss to chip carving on some parts of the edging, otherwise in good condition with lots of carved decoration.
It measures approx 33cm l x 3.5cm w
 
Corsets were called stays and a treen stay busk was essentially a flat piece of wood which fitted into a front pocket of the corset. Many were plain but the carved ones were given as love tokens with symbols similar in meaning to the Welsh Love spoons.
 
 
For more info on stay busks https://www.opusantiques.co.uk/single-post/2017/10/03/Antique-Treen-Stay-Busks---what-are-they