House of Worth Labels: History and How to Date Them
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The House of Worth, founded in Paris by Charles Frederick Worth (1825 to 1895), is often called the start of haute couture. A genuine Worth label lifts value enormously, but the name was used by later firms too, so the label's form has to match a garment's date.
Company history
The Vintage Fashion Guild (VFG) records that the English-born Worth worked at the Paris store Gagelin et Opigez before leaving in 1858 to open Worth et Bobergh with Otto Bobergh, a date our Victorian hub also gives. Maison Worth was established in 1874. Worth dressed the European courts, notably Empress Eugénie, and was among the first to abandon the crinoline for the bustle in the late 1860s. His sons Gaston and Jean-Philippe succeeded him, followed by his grandsons Jacques and Jean-Charles. The house closed in 1953 in a merger with Paquin; the name was bought by Sydney Massin, whose Worth London Ltd traded on Grosvenor Street until 1967. The label has since been revived, and our Victorian hub notes the VFG's warning that a 2000s ready-to-wear firm using the name is not the House of Worth.
Label timeline
| Label or clue | Approximate dates | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Worth et Bobergh | From 1858 | The first house, with Otto Bobergh |
| Maison Worth | From 1874 | After the partnership |
| Run by his sons, then grandsons | From 1895 into the 20th century | Later Paris Worth |
| Worth London Ltd | 1953 to 1967 | After the Paquin merger; London |
| Revived Worth labels | 2000s | Modern firms, not the original house |
What it helps date
- Worth gowns span the Victorian, Edwardian and 1910s periods covered in our hubs.
- A famous label can be moved into another garment: designer label fakes, reproduction vs antique.
Values
Our Victorian and Edwardian hubs record a Worth half-mourning gown at $20,625 at Augusta Auctions (February 2024), and the 1910s hub a Worth brocade evening gown of 1912 at $2,750. These are outliers, not benchmarks. Prices are estimates as of 2026.
check sold prices for worth antique gown on eBay
Sources
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Guides that mention House of Worth
- Victorian Clothing (1837-1901): How to Date and Value ItDate Victorian clothing from 1840s dome skirts to 1880s bustles and 1890s gigot sleeves by silhouette, fabric and construction, with 2026 values.
Related
- How to Spot Fake Designer Labels on Vintage ClothingTell a genuine vintage designer piece from a counterfeit, licensed product or adaptation by checking the label, construction, fabric and history.
- Reproduction vs Antique Clothing: How to TellUse fibres, fasteners, seam finishes, labels and silhouette to tell a real Victorian or Edwardian garment from a costume, revival dress or reproduction.
- ACWA Union Labels: History and How to Date ThemDate men's suits, coats and shirts by the ACWA union label: the first label of 1916, the 1949 design with and without the registered mark, and ACTWU.
- Adrian Labels: History and How to Date ThemAdrian Original and Adrian Custom labels explained: Gilbert Adrian's move from MGM costume design to his own Beverly Hills house, and suit values.