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Cygne Noir (Black Swan)
Dior, Christian, born 1905 - died 1957 - Enlarge image
Cygne Noir (Black Swan)
- Object:
Evening dress
- Place of origin:
Paris (made)
- Date:
1949-1950 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Dior, Christian, born 1905 - died 1957 (designer)
Bianchini-Férier (manufacturer) - Materials and Techniques:
Silk satin, silk, net and velvet
- Credit Line:
Given by Baroness Antoinette de Ginsbourg
- Museum number:
T.117&A-1974
- Gallery location:
In Storage
This evening dress of silk satin and velvet, designed by Christian Dior (1905-57), is constructed in two parts. The tight-fitting top is attached to the skirt with a series of complex fastenings. The skirt itself is very full and heavy, with panels of integral silk velvet that create the appearance of a massive bow, which Dior described as the 'natural ornament' of a dress.
The dress is typical of Dior's collections of the time, which featured flying panels and protruding angles.