Dress
Designer
Vionnet
(1876 - 1975)
c. 1926
Rayon crepe and seed beads
Gift of Mrs. J. Mirsky
Object number76.125.1
The French couturier Madeleine Vionnet was an ardent proponent of international copyright for fashion designs. She utilized a number of strategies in an attempt to prevent the sale of pirated copies, including collaborating with embroiderer Albert Lesage to create difficult-to-copy beading techniques. Nevertheless, counterfeits and unauthorized copies of couture originals proliferated. This copy of Vionnet’s “Little Horses” dress is made of a cheap material with crude embroidery and the lower portion of the dress was eliminated.
DescriptionShort turquoise blue rayon crepe beaded sheath dress; open low round neckline; black jet and gold seed beads hand sewn on bodice in scroll and horse with ristowe button eye design; gather panel at side hip; van dyke beaded hemline; snap closer at left seam and shoulderCollections
Exhibitions