Ball gown

House of Worth

1900–1905 · silk, cotton, metallic thread, glass, metal · Costume Institute

Jean-Philippe Worth succeeded his father as designer for the House of Worth, creating to great favor the stiffened, slightly archaic, rococo revival of the turn of the century. The house continued its virtuoso technical achievements, as represented in this example, in which metallic thread is couched to render baskets and scrolling ribbons, and ivory marquisette is cut into circles and pulled in at the perimeter to make the soft three-dimensional petals that are then applied to the fabric. As the twentieth century began, these designs recalled the eighteenth century. Their artisanal opulence implied the conservative impulse of the couture opposed to the novelties of a new era.

Artist

House of Worth

Date

1900–1905

Medium

silk, cotton, metallic thread, glass, metal

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Walter H. Page, 1979