Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The corsets factory Auguste Claverie, located at 234 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Martin in Paris 10e, was founded in 1860 by Auguste Claverie. This building, of eclectic style typical of the Second Empire, miraculously escaped the Haussmannian transformations and the destruction of the Commune. Its interior, almost intact since its creation, includes stained glass windows, a monumental mahogany staircase, precious wooden countertops and golden bronze chandeliers. The boutique, listed as Monument Historique in 2011, attracted a prestigious clientele, including Josephine Baker, Mistinguett and Arletty, and developed with branches in Bordeaux, Brussels, Nantes and North Africa.

Claverie's reputation was based on innovations such as the corset Le Rêve, combining elasticity and strength thanks to a batist belt. In 1904, the fronts and interiors were enriched with stained glass, preserved until today. The facade and interior decorations, restored in 2016, still serve as a frame for a lingerie shop (Mademoiselle Claverie) and inspired cinematographic works such as Le Viager (1972). Behind the classified cochère door, a vegetated courtyard contrasts with the opulence of the rooms of application, where the original furniture remains.

The 2011 classification specifically protects the cochère door, the staircase, the facade and the two shops on the ground floor, with their stained-glass windows and decors worn. This place, both a workshop and a showcase of Parisian luxury, illustrates the golden age of French corseterie, between craftsmanship of excellence and international reach. Its authenticity makes it a rare testimony of 19th century commercial architecture, still in operation in an adapted form.

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