Fabulous Condition Health Corset

From the seller:

Sehr seltenes Leinen-Mieder um 1900/20 mit Glasknöpfen
Zustand mit Altersspuren. Ungereinigter Fund!
Passend bei Gr. 38/40
Länge: 47 cm (Träger verstellbar)
Breite unter den Armen: 39 cm

Gern beantworten wir Ihre Fragen oder senden weitere Detailfotos.

Google translation:

Very rare linen bodice to 1900/20 with glass knobs
Condition with signs of age. Uncleaned Find!
Modern Size 38/40
Length: 47 cm (adjustable straps)
Width under the arms: 39 cm

We are happy to answer your questions or send more detailed photos.

From Me:

I remember a lady emailing me about this one but I can't find the email. Sorry! It is a lovely example of a health corset and very similar to this one at the V&A museum.

1830's Corset!

From the seller:

I am selling with NO RESERVE an early American corset from the 1830s (this is according to Karen Augusta, owner of Augusta Auction Co., Bellows Falls, Vt, who saw the same photo I have posted here). Augusta is the premier auction house in North America for historic costume, couture and vintage fashion
What makes this corset really special is that it has fancy details on the front and even the signature of the owner -- Eliza Southard
The fancy details consist of two beautiful designs. Each is repeated twice -- side by side, one pattern on top of the other. Each is 5 inches in length. Together, they cover more than half of the corset's length
At its shortest point, the corset is 14-1/2" long. When completely unfolded, the corset is 23" wide
My mother purchased this corset from an antique dealer in New Hampshire approximately 50 years ago. She donated a similar corset to the Brooklyn Museum
I know nothing about clothing or vintage clothing, but am happy to try to answer any and all questions (please see 2 questions from viewers below). And please excuse my very poor photography skills
The corset seems to be in very condition for its ago, with no defects that are visible to an untrained eye (that would be me).

Q: Hi! Can you send the picture with the back of corset und can you please tell me the measurements. Many Thanks, Larissa May-13-16
A: Hi Larissa, Many thanks for your interest and for taking the time to send a question. At its shortest point, the corset is 14-1/2" long When it is completely unfolded, the corset is 23" wide I just added a couple of photos Please let me know if there is anything else you would like My apologies to everyone for doing such a poor job listing this item. I have sold over 10,000 items on ebay in 15+ years, but never an article of clothing. The only reason I am selling this item is that it belonged to my mom Thank you Ken
Q: the 2 breast gores seems to be made of a stiff material. can you add some pictures, like from the back and hanging from a coat hanger? these picture do the corset no justice. thanks, dirk-jan May-13-16
A: Many thanks for your interest and for taking the time to write. I have taken 2 additional photos that I hope will help a bit. Please let me know if there is anything else you would like, and I apologize for my very poor photo skills Ken

From Me:

Thank you to everyone that complained to the seller about the photos. :-)

1830'S

As you can see in the above fashion plate, these are very much 1830's. :-)

1820's Sleeved Corset and Petticoat

From the seller:

An early 1820’s embroidered cotton corset and cotton under slip. The under slip has been de-accessioned form the Brooklyn Museum Collection. The corset and under slip are both hand stitched. The corset is embroidered with light and dark gold feather pattern. The bust line has two gussets that are each embroidered. The back has hand stitched holes for lacing. The lacing is not included and is for display purposes only. The corset comes with it original kid leather busk. The corset is in very good and clean condition. There is one tiny hole in the center front bust area. Bust 30 Waist 20 Length 19. The under slip hemline has a crown like styled decoration with inserts of fine muslin. The petticoat has an adjustable drawstring waistline. The petticoat is in good and clean condition. Several of the hemline decorations are missing the muslin insert fabric. (See photos.) Length 37.

From Me:

I tried to find the original museum description but couldn't. I did find a couple of similar cut stays in the Met's current collection, however. According to the Met these both date to the 1820's. I'm tempted to think these are really 1830's based on how off the shoulder they are but they are from the early Romantic period either way.

Late Edwardian Corset

From the seller:

A gorgeous OLD STOCK antique Victorian, Edwardian, nude color cotton bustier corset with bone casings ~ wide lace overlay around the neckline ~ metal eyelet lace-ups ~ metal hook and eye closures down the front ~ and four wide adjustable garters. The corset is stamped ~ Kabo, The Live Model Corset, Non-Rustable, No. 2049. It also has the numbers 18 and 7 stamped on the inside. The corset measures 22" at the longest and when cinched the tightest --- 26" across the top neckline, 36 1/2" along the bottom edge, 19" across the waist. The corset is sound, strong and very wearable but does has some spotting like shown in the photo and is somewhat dusty/dirty from age but otherwise in EXCELLENT antique condition. Also included is some pieces of a blue tissue that was in a corset box and a couple of ends from a corset box, one matches the model number of the corset. The laces are missing, the ones in the photo are not included.
VINTAGE ~ ~

LABEL ~~

FABRIC ~~

MEASUREMENTS ~ ~~

CONDITION ~ ~

From Me:

1910 Advertisement

Above is an ad for this corset or one very similar to it. Kind of interesting that they'd include a book on how to put on your corset....

Body Belt (?) of the Romantic Era

From the seller:

From Me:

There are already a few very cool blog posts written by a lady who works with garments at the Brighton museum on body belts for men during the 1820's. My guess is this is something similar but in the late 1820's/early 1830's. The bone grommets indicate a later datee. The shape does seem to be more indicative of a woman's shape than a man's but it's very hard to tell. (Face it, we've all seen men that could use the "bro" due to their cup size being bigger than most women's.)

Corset cover and Bicycle Trousers

From the seller:

Here is an antique pair of pedal pusher pantaloons with abalone shell buttons up the side. There is also a small pocket at the waist. There are some rusty like spots on the backside near the waist.the material is a tiny ribbed cotton.
Includes lacy white bralette with blue ribbon.

From Me:

Although I think most viewers of this blog will instantly recognize the corset cover for what it is, the bicycle trousers are a slightly different story. Some clues that they are bicycle trousers and not bloomers - the buttons, the pocket, the side button opening, and the lack of a "split" at the crotch. The shape (puffy thighs!) are also a huge hint. Really cool!

For some examples of bicycle trousers in period, check out Margaret Perry's post for a really cool photo from 1900 with ladies wearing trousers. Yesterday's thimble also has a picture up from Punch magazine circe 1895 of a lady wearing bicycle trousers - ones that are very similar in shape to this extant one!

1880's Sample Corset

From the seller:

Extremly rare auth antique corset from the late 1800s .


Made of dark ecru cotton or linen ( very strong fabric ) and leather parts .

Extrem wasp waist .


Very well made .


GIFT ---> pink lacing .


COLOR :

Dark ecru , red and yellow ( leather parts ) .


SIZE :

No tag of size but the corset is very very small . Seems to be a XXXS actual size .


The lacing at the back can be adjusted and so the size can be larger .


MATERIALS :

Cotton or linen ( very strong fabric ) and leather parts .


CONDITION :

The corset is in good condition for its age .
The only damage are many holes on the leather parts , spots and some red threads are disconnected .


From Me:

According to the corset itself, it's from 1883 (it says so on the busk). If anyone is curious as to why it's so small, it's a sample corset that a saleswo/man would have on display. Or, it could be from a doll.