Evening Dress
1949-1950 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The dress consists of a violet velvet strapless bodice and a white silk taffeta skirt reaching just above the ankle. A violet satin drape is attached a the sides of the bodice, drapes over the breasts and crosses on the chest before forming two draped straps at the back stitched at the waist. The back of the skirt is composed of two curved overlapping panels of violet satin forming a train but attached to the sides of the white silk front skirt. The bodice is lined with matching chiffon and boned. It fastens with a metal zip under the left arm. There is a black grosgrain ribbon stitched around the top. The bottom is mounted on a white silk grosgrain ribbon with loops for suspension. The dress is in poor condition and difficult to assemble to its original shape.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Velvet and silk taffeta, metal zip |
| Brief description | Velvet and silk evening dress, probably Balenciaga, Paris, Autumn/winter 1949-1950 |
| Physical description | The dress consists of a violet velvet strapless bodice and a white silk taffeta skirt reaching just above the ankle. A violet satin drape is attached a the sides of the bodice, drapes over the breasts and crosses on the chest before forming two draped straps at the back stitched at the waist. The back of the skirt is composed of two curved overlapping panels of violet satin forming a train but attached to the sides of the white silk front skirt. The bodice is lined with matching chiffon and boned. It fastens with a metal zip under the left arm. There is a black grosgrain ribbon stitched around the top. The bottom is mounted on a white silk grosgrain ribbon with loops for suspension. The dress is in poor condition and difficult to assemble to its original shape. |
| Production type | Haute couture |
| Marks and inscriptions | (No label) |
| Credit line | Given by Miss Catherine Hunt |
| Object history | This dress is in very poor condition and difficult to assemble to its original shape. Probably model number 56, a/w 1949 (as suggested by Mme. Jouve, former Balenciaga archivist), or as illustrated in Miller, L., 'Perfect Harmony' in Wilcox, C., ed., The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (V&A Publications, London), pl.5.4. This dress was worn by Martita Hunt, the British actor. Given by her sister Miss Catherine Hunt following her death (see registered paper 69/2325). Martita Hunt (1900-1969) was a British theatre and film actor, best known for her 1946 performance as Miss Havisham in David Lean's film version of 'Great Expectations'. |
| Bibliographic reference | Miller, L., 'Perfect Harmony' in Wilcox, C., ed., The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (V&A Publications, London), pl.5.4.
|
| Other number | No. 56 - model number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.127-1970 |
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| Record created | February 14, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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