Help Dating Victorian Corset Bodice

I totally reminds me of the bodice of a traditional Swiss costume from the canton of Berne, like the one my grandmother had made and which my mother wore too. Of course that is newer, but based on older styles (click on the thumbnails). This one was handmade in the 1930s by a seamstress.


See also

Code:

http://www.trachtenvereinigung-bern.ch/trachten/festtagstrachten/schwarze-sonntagstracht/

This is the classic version, which is best known, the Berner Sonntagstracht - originally intended for Sundays and special occasions. This costume has been worn like this since the 19th century.

There is however a version called the "Tschöplitracht" (tschöpli meaning jacket) which has a few different versions, the most glamourous of which was intended for weddings. Biggest difference: there bodice has sleeves. Here are some examples on the website of the association that looks after preserving this costume tradition:

Code:

http://www.trachtenvereinigung-bern.ch/trachten/festtagstrachten/tschoeplitracht/

The last one, the Gotthelf version, looks like what your bodice is like. This one is named after a 19th century author from the canton of Berne, Jeremias Gotthelf. It was designed after illustrations for his stories made by Albert Anker - who was a very famous 19th century Swiss painter (if you do an image search for him you will see paintings of women wearing similar outfits). All versions of it are most of all simpler than the Sonntagstracht - less jewelry, and are always worn with a striped apron.

So in short, I think your bodice may well come from a costume like this.