Evening Dress
ca. 1951 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Jacques Griffe (1909-96) was one of the few couturiers to start his career in the workrooms. He began working with Madeleine Vionnet (1876-1975) in 1936, where he learned to drape and cut fabric on small wooden figures in the Vionnet tradition. After the Second World War he worked briefly for Edward Molyneux (1891–1974).
This elegant, pared down design is a typical early 1950s shape with its fitted bodice and full skirt, and would probably have been worn with a matching stole around the shoulders. The fabric is exceptional, with its complex double-weaving technique that creates an unusual frayed ‘ribbon work’ effect. The white silk threads are interwoven with the grey organza.
This elegant, pared down design is a typical early 1950s shape with its fitted bodice and full skirt, and would probably have been worn with a matching stole around the shoulders. The fabric is exceptional, with its complex double-weaving technique that creates an unusual frayed ‘ribbon work’ effect. The white silk threads are interwoven with the grey organza.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Cut and fringed double weave organza |
| Brief description | Halter-neck evening dress of cut and fringed double weave white silk thread and grey silk organza, Jacques Griffe, Paris, ca. 1951 |
| Physical description | Halter necked evening dress with full skirt, grey silk organza interwoven with with undulating lines of frayed silk thread, resultant fringes cut straight along edge. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production type | Haute couture |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | Evening dress (robe du soir)
Jacques Griffe (1909-96)
Paris
About 1951
Griffe was one of the few couturiers to rise from the workrooms. He began working with Vionnet in 1936, where he learned to drape and cut fabric on small wooden figures in the Vionnet tradition. After the war, he worked briefly for Molyneux. His elegant, pared down designs reflect this pedigree.
Cut and fringed double weave organza
V&A: T.26-2007(22/09/2007-06/01/2008) |
| Object history | The dress was purchased at the Cornette de Saint Cyr auction in Paris, 4 July 2006. No further information regarding provenance was available at that time. |
| Summary | Jacques Griffe (1909-96) was one of the few couturiers to start his career in the workrooms. He began working with Madeleine Vionnet (1876-1975) in 1936, where he learned to drape and cut fabric on small wooden figures in the Vionnet tradition. After the Second World War he worked briefly for Edward Molyneux (1891–1974). This elegant, pared down design is a typical early 1950s shape with its fitted bodice and full skirt, and would probably have been worn with a matching stole around the shoulders. The fabric is exceptional, with its complex double-weaving technique that creates an unusual frayed ‘ribbon work’ effect. The white silk threads are interwoven with the grey organza. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.26-2007 |
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| Record created | January 10, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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