Object: Evening dress
Date: c. 1920
Medium: Silk chiffon, gelatin sequins, and crystal beads
Country: France
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Harold E. Thompson
Object number: 76.100.1
DescriptionSleeveless evening dress in pale pink silk chiffon crepe with fishscale sequin and crystal bead embroidery; deep scoop neck frame with silk band of sequins; band from neck drops to hip continuing around hips; cut out floral pattern with lattice background is heavily embroidered with sequins and crystal beads and makes long torso bodice; skirt is gathered to bodice and has wide band of cutout floral pattern at hem
Label Text:The sequins on this 1920s dress are made of gelatin, a colorless water-soluble substance derived from collagen, a protein extracted from animal products such as skin, bones, and (fish) bladders. During the 1920s and 1930s, gelatin sequins were a cheap and versatile alternative to metal varieties, but exposure to water, or high heat and humidity, caused them to warp or disintegrate entirely.
In Collection(s)
Exhibitions:
- Food and Fashion