Perigot Bag Contest: Who gave Lady Liberty her structure?

You must visit the "other Lady" in Paris. Photos by Theadora Brack.

Staten Island, to be exact) in Paris–

Yes, Cheapos, the Statue of Liberty is back and looking ever so fierce in her spiky nimbus (or halo—after all, it’s not a crown!) and her matching floor length chiton robe in all its coppery green tonalities. It’s an exquisite nod to the style of classical Greece, I must say. Pinching from Christian Dior, “Darling, your toile with the cinched waist is perfect!”

"Teddy" market sacs by Perigot at the Carrousel du Louvre.

As a salute to the July 4, 2009 re-opening of the crown of Frédéric Bartholdi’s ”Lady Liberty” statue in New York harbor, and the upcoming July 14th Bastille Day in France, we’re giving away a “Teddy” market sac in royal purple created by Frédéric Périgot of Paris.

The first Cheapo to answer our question correctly wins the prize. Just leave your answer in the comments box below.

Here’s the big question:

Bartholdi was the artist, but who was the structural engineer of the Union Franco-Americaine Statue of Liberty project?

Leave your answers (and your emails!) in the comments section below to win!

Speaking of Franco-American gifts…

Périgot is the official supplier of feather dusters and other cleaning implements to the Palais de l’ Elysées (the French presidential palace) on rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. What could be hipper or sexier than tidying up the pad with black ostrich feathers? “Nothing but the best,” as torch singing French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy said when Michelle Obama recently presented her with a Swank acoustic guitar in turn.

While in Paris

Check out the prototypes of Lady Liberty. You can find them on the Île des Cygnes, in the Jardin du Luxembourg, and at the Musée des Arts et Métiers. And you can find a full-sized version of the torch at the entrance to the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. Nowadays, it serves double duty as the unofficial Princess Di memorial.

Bon Chance!