Romantic Era Stays

From the seller:

These are two handmade early 19th century corsets belonging to Amanda M. Ferry. The Ferry's lived in N. Conway, in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.

The first corset, shown on the form, is made of a crisp, medium weight cotton, perhaps meant for the spring and summer months. There is a signature near the top in front: "A M Ferry, No. 7". It has bone grommets, a slot for a busk. cording around the grommets. The second is made of a heavier, more substantial homespun style cotton, this one perhaps for wear in colder weather. It has thread grommets, a busk slot, a faint signature at the bottom, "Amanda M Ferry". There could also be a number given below this, as in the first corset, it's very faint, however. I would date these to about 1840, looking at the slightly "spoon" shaped waist.

Both corsets were made for a very small young lady. The first corset, the lighter cotton, measures 25 3/8" around the bust, 21 3/8" around at the waist, it's 15 3/4" long in front. The second, heavier corset is 27" around at the bust, 22" at the waist, it's 15" long in front.

Both corsets are strong, with no holes or weak areas. The heavier one has medium overall foxing, or discoloration. The lighter is still crisp, but also has overall light age or storage discoloration. The laces are replacements.

From Me:

You start to see the rounded front (rather than straight across the hips) as early as the 1820's.  I think the one on the hanger is maybe 1820's/1830's.  It's hard to tell, honestly.  The one on the dress form is definitely 1840's though - those shoulder straps!

Turn of the Century Young Miss Summer Dress

From the seller:

You are bidding on a beautiful Edwardian cotton lingerie dress.

This dress has lace details at the hem, cuffs, and bodice and still has its original silk ribbons.

20" waist; 32" bust; 52" total length.

Very good condition with: one repair under one arm; a missing button on the back at the waist; minor yellowing, etc.

Please look carefully at the photos.

From Me:

Although that V ruffle bodice thing (technical term!) was more poplar in the 1890's, it still existed in the early 1900's. The sleeves are more Edwardian so I'm going to agree with the seller.

Early Teens Era Summer Dress With Purple Details

From the seller:

A super cute antique Victorian, Edwardian house dress that's made on a lightweight linen with a tiny floral print with plum color squares. The dress has a tiered skirt ~ a white lace edged collar and cuffs ~ a tuck pleated white yoke with pearl button detail on the sides ~ plum color edging ~ a sash that wraps around the waist and fastens with snaps ~ snap closures on the shoulder, down the side of the bodice and partway down the skirt.

VINTAGE ~ ~ Victorian, Edwardian

LABEL ~~

FABRIC ~~ linen ~ fabric is sound and strong.

MEASUREMENTS ~ ~~ 47" length, 16 1/4" shoulder to waist, 36" bust, 25" waist, free hip 46", 15 1/2" across the shoulder seams, 18" sleeve length.

CONDITION ~~ I couldn't find any wear in the fabric at all, looks like it was unworn but it does have some spotting like shown in the last photo. The dress is otherwise in excellent antique condition.



From Me:

Not a house dress - you would have worn this to anywhere we'd wear a jeans and a nice blouse today.

The neat thing about this dress is how, although it looks simple, it really has a lot of detail in it. It only gets prettier the more I look at it. This with a lavender colored slip beneath it?

I'm thinking about 1912/1913 for this one.

1890's Black and White Jacket

From the seller:

CIRCA l;ate 1800's-1900, a luxurious silk and wool jacket with a wide collar ,pockets and cuffs all heavily embroidered with beadwork flowers. Stern Brothers opened in 1867 and was one of the most fashionable shops in New York. They carried the best of French and European fashions and replaced many of the labels with their own label.This jacket is beautifully made , the silk is luminous, the embroidery very fine.All the edges of the jacket are embellished with further embroidery at the back of the jacket.The jacket does not seem as if it was worn muuch at all.

Item Measurements:

Apprx. almost 28" long,

shoulder to shoulder apprx. 12"

around collar 16-17"

18" across chest

apprx.8" across armhole





Item condition:



In very good condition.there is some wear at the back of the plain part of collarone small stain on front.a few missing beads,MINOR and a few tiny loose metallic threads.Jacket needs to be cleaned .All items we list need to be cleaned.




From Me:

1897, image taken from Sensibility.com

Rather than a zig zag front like in the Fashion plate above, the extant has a turned back collar. However, the length and overall shaping look to be about the same.

3 Petticoats - at least one for half mourning

From the seller:

~Three~ Victorian Antique Petticoat Mourning Skirt DOWNTOWN ABBEY Slip Skirt

First



Tan brown skirt looks to be marked Belding's

No damage no odors one snap

This would be Belding Brothers & Company, Silk Manufacturers late 1800's early 1900's

Length 34" waist 52" no elastic or pleating size yourself

Second

Black no makers mark I can find no damage no odor waist 26" Length 30" hook eye snap closure

Third

Very Very OLD skirt bottom (top damaged) Hand made Lined for winter warmth 28" some damage and fragile!!

Any questions please ask my goal is happy customers

shipping $10.00 insured

From Me:

Typing with puppy on right arm is not an easy feat!

Anyway, the purple and black/gray one is Natural form. I think the black one is Edwardian. No idea on the tan one.

Bustle Era Stripes Dress in Black and White

From the seller:

Hello, up for auction is the beautiful authentic historic period Victorian silk dress. This is not a reproduction. I am not sure of the exact date on this, it was a purchase online which stated the dress is from somewhere on the 1880s.

This auction is for a silk pinstriped bodice and under/over skirt. The black bustle is not included as it is not part of the original dress. The dress when purchased never came with the original bustle.

Both bodice and skirt are very damaged. I have taken over 20 photos for the potential bidder to view. I included the most damaged parts of this dress. It is basically not wearable, and should be considered for purchase as a collector's item. It probably can be worn but it must fit exact to the body measurements this dress was made for and just know the dress is in a very fragile condition and the silk might tear more. It is very petite. Height would work best for someone 5'6 to 5'8. Bust measurement of bodice is 30", waistline of skirt 24" and hips up to 36".

Some parts of the bodice and skirt were repaired by me. I show the repairs on my photos. I added some new buttons to the bodice that were missing, I repaired some of the holes with black raw silk, I added some hook and eye closures to the inside bodice lining and skirt lining (which was holding the black bustle on). These I am leaving on and including with this dress when shipped.

From Me:

September 1875

1876

The basque waist and the narrowness of the skirt are the two clues to the earlier date. Also, this color combo - as evidenced above in the fashion plates- was a popular one in the mid 1870's.