Coronation
Evening Dress
1953 (made)
1953 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This magnificent evening gown formed part of the John Cavanagh (1914-2003) spring/summer 1953 'Coronation' collection. It was ordered by Lady Cornwallis (nee Esme d’Beaumont, 1901-69) to wear for the coronation celebrations in June. Although Cavanagh had been in business for just one year, he had already secured a reputation as a talented designer.
The fabric designed by Oliver Messel (1904-1978), at the time Britain’s foremost designer of costumes and sets for stage and film, was commissioned by Nicholas (‘Miki’) Sekers, who owned West Cumberland Silk Mills.
The fabric of the gown was made using a weave particular to the Sekers company at this time. It is made of two separate layers of silk joined to form the design. This is of scattered semi-naturalistic orchids woven in oyster, pale-pink and green silk enriched with gold threads.
The fabric designed by Oliver Messel (1904-1978), at the time Britain’s foremost designer of costumes and sets for stage and film, was commissioned by Nicholas (‘Miki’) Sekers, who owned West Cumberland Silk Mills.
The fabric of the gown was made using a weave particular to the Sekers company at this time. It is made of two separate layers of silk joined to form the design. This is of scattered semi-naturalistic orchids woven in oyster, pale-pink and green silk enriched with gold threads.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Coronation (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Brocaded silk |
| Brief description | Evening dress 'Coronation' of brocaded silk, designed by John Cavanagh, London, 1953, with fabric designed by Oliver Messel and made by Sekers Fabrics Ltd. |
| Physical description | Evening dress of brocaded silk with a design of scattered and semi-naturalistic orchids woven in oyster, pale-pink and green silk enriched with gold threads. It has a heart shaped fitted bodice with two simple shoulder straps. The skirt is semi-full with a small train at the back. It is made of two layers of fine silk which are separate except where they are joined together to form the design. As well as silk each one is woven also with gold thread which is in the bottom layer of the fabric except when it comes to the surface with the design. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Haute couture |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Lady Cornwallis |
| Object history | Worn and given by Lady Cornwallis. Esme Ethel Alice d'Beaumont (1901-1969) is the daughter of Captian Montmorency d'Beaumont. She married, firstly, Major Sir Robert James Milo Walker, 4 Bt., on 23 January 1923. She married, secondly, Sir Wykeham Stanley Cornwallis (1892-1982), 2nd Baron Cornwallis on 26 February 1948. Given by the 3rd Lord and Lady Cornwallis. This dress was ordered for the Coronation celebrations of June 1953, and this dress formed part of John Cavanagh's spring/summer 1953 (Coronation collection). Lady Cornwallis also wore T.292-1982. |
| Historical context | The Sekers company made a special fabric for Oliver Messel's designs (called ‘Jewels’, ‘Acorn', ‘Scattered Leaves’, ‘Juliet’, Miniver’, and ‘Twigs’). It is made of two layers of fine silk which are separate except where they are joined together to form the design. As well as silk each one is woven also with gold thread which is in the bottom layer of the fabric except when it comes to the surface with the design. |
| Production | Spring/summer 1953 Attribution note: Made for the Coronation, 1953 Reason For Production: Commission |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This magnificent evening gown formed part of the John Cavanagh (1914-2003) spring/summer 1953 'Coronation' collection. It was ordered by Lady Cornwallis (nee Esme d’Beaumont, 1901-69) to wear for the coronation celebrations in June. Although Cavanagh had been in business for just one year, he had already secured a reputation as a talented designer. The fabric designed by Oliver Messel (1904-1978), at the time Britain’s foremost designer of costumes and sets for stage and film, was commissioned by Nicholas (‘Miki’) Sekers, who owned West Cumberland Silk Mills. The fabric of the gown was made using a weave particular to the Sekers company at this time. It is made of two separate layers of silk joined to form the design. This is of scattered semi-naturalistic orchids woven in oyster, pale-pink and green silk enriched with gold threads. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.294-1984 |
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| Record created | August 26, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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