Object: Robe à la française
Date: c. 1735
Medium: Silk taffeta brocade
Country: France or Italy
Credit Line: Museum purchase
Object number: 2006.56.2
DescriptionBrocaded silk robe a la francaise (closed robe) in pale yellow silk taffeta with floral, foliage and architectural motifs in polychrome silk floss; winged cuffs; stomacher; narrow metallic lace ribbon for bodice lacing; wide metallic ribbon for bodice bow; altered, and repaired hole left front side of dress; French or Italian, possibly Venetian
Label Text:Patterned silks and cottons gained importance in France during the reign of Louis XIV. A fashionable robe à la française would be made from yards of expensive silk brocade draped over wide hoops, trimmed with handmade lace, and elaborately accessorized. Although it was often dismissed as wasteful, aristocratic luxury supported a host of artisans. As textile designs rapidly evolved, weaving centers such as Lyon became integral to the elite fashion industry. According to the great French writer Montesquieu (1689–1755), there was “an absolute necessity for luxury. Were the rich not so lavish, the poor would starve.” People of more modest means tended to wear clothing made from fabrics in solid colors.
Exhibitions:
- Ravishing: The Rose in Fashion
- Luxury