Scribd exclusive preview of Collections Online launching October 2010

A first look at an intriguing object from our collection soon to be featured alongside
thousands of objects in our online public database, Collections Online.
Roman Leather bikini briefs 1st century AD

These briefs would have been worn by a young female, possibly an acrobat.

Depictions of bikini-like garments suggest a relationship with acrobats and other

sports.

However, an alternative suggestion was that the garments may have been worn as
everyday under-clothing or as a sanitary garment.

It is made from a single piece of leather, hour-glass in shape with adjustable side
fastenings. There are hems around the legs. Each corner is reinforced on the inside
with two rectangles of leather with a lace looped through. One fastening knot
remains, where the garment was tied at the left hip, and shows that it had been tied
in a ‘granny’ knot.

This London example has deeply defined stretch marks across the front panel
indicating that they have been worn and the type of stretch marks and size would
indicate that they were worn by a teenage girl.

As Senior Curator, Jenny Hall, adds: "it just goes to show that nothing’s new – those
1950’s bikinis were just following a Roman trend!"

Found: Bank of London & South America, Queen Street, City of London, 1953 down
a Roman well.

Measurements: length 340mm; width 220mm

Owner Status: permanent collection

To discover more fascinating objects from the Museum’s collection be sure to

visit http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/collectionsonline from October.