Compact

Salvador Dalí|Elsa Schiaparelli|House of Schiaparelli

ca. 1935 · metal, enamel · Costume Institute

Elsa Schiaparelli was known for her experimental collaboration with manufacturers, resultant in a wide array of accessories, findings, and novelty textiles that provided the distinctive flourishes that became a trademark of her work. She introduced this whimsical powder compact as part of her first themed presentation: "Stop, Look and Listen," which debuted in February of 1935, in celebration of her new boutique at the Place Vendôme in Paris. The designer has described the collection as founded on fantasy and ingenuity, two attributes easily evoked with this inventive accessory. The Gallic rotary telephone dial featured on the face of the compact lid includes a small plaque for the owner’s monogram at center. It also conjures surrealist undertones, particularly as a harbinger for Schiaparelli’s later collaborations with the artist Salvador Dali that would begin with her winter 1936–37 collection. This distinctive, yet timeless design achieved international acclaim, inspiring copies by contemporaneous manufacturers like Evan’s Case Company in Massachusetts, who produced "The Schiaparelli Dial by Evans Case." Later editions were produced into the 1950s.

Artist

Salvador Dalí|Elsa Schiaparelli|House of Schiaparelli

Date

ca. 1935

Medium

metal, enamel

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Alfred Z. Solomon-Janet A. Sloane Endowment Fund, 2019