High-end French antique silk corset, 1860s-1890s
Antique Corset #0011
Stamped in metallic gold ink on the inside waist tape by the maker:
"Mme. Lambelet Corsets 36 Rue Montaigne Paris"
Measurements: 33.5” bust / 20” waist / 32” upper hip (4.5” below waist)
This corset is constructed of 9 pattern pieces per side (6 of which are gores). The fabric is a cream silk satin lined in cream silk taffeta like fabric. Seam allowances are hidden and bones are set within applied interior polished cotton bone casings. The waist tape is 1 1/16”” wide and runs along the interior along the waist line the full width of the corset. The waist tape is secured in place with the applied interior bone casings. Corset has a total of 15 bones per side; all of which are baleen except for the single wider side steel which is a common feature in Victorian corsets. Pale pink silk flossing is applied on the upper and lower part of all bone casings. The upper edge of the corset is bound with a cotton twill tape and trimmed with a lovely cream lace under which a pink silk taffeta ribbon is applied with a matching ribbon rosette at the center front. The bottom edge of the corset is finished in a luxurious pink silk plush found in higher-end corsets of the 19th century.
Center front length of 10.75” with a 9.75” leather wrapped dished busk.
Center back length of 9.75” with 14 grommets per side; spaced at .75” apart except for the two at the waistline which are set .50” apart. The lowest grommet is set .50” up from the bottom edge and the uppermost grommet is set .25” down from the upper edge. The lace trim rises above the upper edge an additional .75”
This type of high end couture corset was made throughout the second half of the 19th century and can date from the 1860s through the 1890s. The only way to know more specifically is to know when and for how long Mme. Lambelet operated her business at 36 Rue Montaigne Paris. If you have this information or any clues related to it, please message me.
