Not on display

Marca Polo

Tunic
1983-1984 (made)
Artist/Maker
Artwork, Gottelier Ltd (makers)
Place of origin
London (made)

Tunic of knitted silk and cashmere.

Object details

Categories
Womenswear
Fashion
Clothing
Object type
Tunic
TitleMarca Polo (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Knitted silk and cashmere
Silk Thread
Cashmere
Knitted
Brief description
Tunic 'Marca Polo' of knitted silk and cashmere, made by Artwork, Gottelier Ltd., London, 1983-1984
Physical description
Tunic of knitted silk and cashmere.
Gallery label
(1985)
'MARCA POLO' OUTFIT
Tabard, sweater, leggings, mittens and stole, hand and machine-knitted in silk and cashmere, mask of beaten metal.
British: Artwork (Jane Foster and Patrick Gottelier), 1983-4

This fantastic outfit was commissioned by the Comitato Venezia Moda for the 1984 Venice Carnival. Artwork conjured up a female form of Marco Polo (the 13th century Venetian explorer and merchant) returning to Venice from China, gloriously resplendent in precious materials from the Orient.

The tabard is simply constructed from two lengths of knitting joined together leaving a hole for the head, gathered across the shoulders and caught at the sides underarm. The wide ribbing is smocked at random with metal studs. Underneath are worn a sweater and leggings in a 'seersucker' effect stitch, uneven bands of stocking stitch ruched into narrow bands of garter stitch. The shaggy stole is knitted in stocking and garter stitches from a knitted yarn and strips of woven fabrics, the knotted ends of which are left hanging in profusion from the surface. The golden mask which completes the carnival theme of disguise was made by Sheila Teague and Gary Wright for Artwork.

Given by Jane Foster and Patrick Gottelier
T.203 to F-1985
Credit line
Given by the makers
Object history
Registered File number 1985/717. Part of an ensemble T.203 to F-1985 commissioned by the Comitato Venezia Moda for the 1984 Venice Carnival.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.203-1985

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O365704/marca-polo-tunic-artwork-gottelier-ltd/
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