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The Pagan Collection
Schiaparelli, Elsa, born 1890 - died 1973 - Enlarge image
The Pagan Collection
- Object:
Choker
- Place of origin:
Paris, France (made)
- Date:
late 1938 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Schiaparelli, Elsa, born 1890 - died 1973 (designer)
- Materials and Techniques:
Silk and velvet ribbons with gilt pine cones
- Credit Line:
Given by Miss Ruth Ford
- Museum number:
T.413-1974
- Gallery location:
Fashion, room 40, case CA10
This dramatic necklace was part of Elsa Schiaparelli's Pagan Collection of Autumn 1938. Schiaparelli was famous for her creative fashion designs and unexpected surreal touches. Her bold approach to colour is demonstrated by this necklace, which sets purple velvet bows against an acid yellow grosgrain ribbon choker. Each bow has a gilt pine-cone suspended from it on a thin chain.
The Pagan Collection featured themes and motifs drawn from nature - blossom, leaves, and even insects. The Museum also has a hat from this collection that is trimmed with crawling beetles (see T.427-1974).
