Help Identifying Corset age and pricing

[Molly Dvora]

Hi There-

I'm having difficulty identifying and pricing this vintage corset (images attached). It says C.P. A la Sirene Paris "Eva" Made in France. Thanks so much for your help - - this piece is truly stumping me!

View attachment 29792

 

[MagsRags]

Hi Molly, and welcome to the VFG forums. I do not have corset expertise, but I'm sure someone else will come along who does. I did want to say that I love the detailing on yours - so pretty.

I also wanted to let you know that VFG members are not able to offer appraisals or pricing suggestions. General guidelines for participating here at VFG are available here
http://forums.vintagefashionguild.org/pages/Welcome-to-the-VFG-Forums-please-read/

 

[Jonathan]

It looks post WWI era to me c. 1918 - 1922.

 

[Molly Dvora]

Thanks Jonathan! When I look up the brand, 99% of the info is in French :/

And Maggie- thanks for the tip

 

[Pinkcoke]

I thought it looked 1920's from the wide lace used which I have seen on this period's bralets before.

You may like to read the Corset entry in our newly refreshed Lingerie guide:
http://vintagefashionguild.org/lingerie-guide/corsets-1920s-to-present/

 

[Jonathan]

AHA - here is a near identical one in style, from Lucille, 1918

 

[Molly Dvora]

Thanks a lot Jonathan! That does look similar to my corset. I've been trying to get more info on the label, but the only thing I could find was a piece in the Met:http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/86415 - which is obviously more ornate than mine. I'd be interested to know if other members have come across this label before.

 

[Circa Vintage Clothing]

It reminds me of a '20s Gossard corset I have on the webshop, you can see it here - although I think yours is a little earlier, so a late 'teens date sounds right.

I like the button detailing on yours - by the way, the big hand stitches suggest that it's been taken in at some point. If there's no damage underneath, you might like to remove them as they could be distorting the natural shape of the corset.

 

[Molly Dvora]

Nicole - thanks so much for the reply and help - I hadn't even noticed the extra stitches!!

The corset in your shop is just breath taking

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

Hi Molly, such a beautiful piece. I vote early 1920s, and it could possibly be a maternity corset judging by the front stretch panel and the side lacing.

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

Here's some company info:

Text from "World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, ILL, 1893", which had a corset exhibition:
"France was represented by II. P. F. Laprince, of Paris, and Farcy & Oppenheim, of Paris, who *are the manufacturers of the C. P. a la Sirene corsets. Their exhibit was very beautiful; it combined French taste with French solidity. This house has received prizes in almost all the principal expositions, so at the last one in Paris the head of firm was decorated with the Legion of Honor and was one of the judges. Their exhibit was consequently "Hors Concours." The sale of their goods is confined to Ottenheimer Brothers, of New York. "

 

[Molly Dvora]

Any thoughts on how to identify whether the corset is a maternity corset or not? This is the first corset I've acquired for sale in my shop, so have very little expertise in that area of vintage. Thanks so much to everyone for helping - this is a fantastic resource. I've been coming to VFG for years to identify labels and fabrics, but this is my first time using the forum tool.

 

[sewingmachinegirl]

HI Molly,
Its just unusual to have the elastic panel at the front- that is usually where you actually want the support and constriction to flatten the tummy. The side lacing is often found on maternity corsets.
See the links below for examples that I found on pinterest.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/501588477220655959/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/501588477220655921/

 

[Midge]

I found this when googling the company: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francine_%28Corset_C._P._%C3%A0_la_Sir%C3%A8ne,_Paris%29.jpg
And here's some more of their ads, showing different corsets, but not your model, "Eva": http://hprints.com/search/C-P-a-la-Sirene-Corsetmaker/