Evening muff

Elsa Schiaparelli

1930–35 · fur, wool · Costume Institute

Monkey fur from the genus Colobus was highly desired for clothing, particularly during the early 20th century, because of its sleek black color and length. This muff by Schiaparelli is monkey fur of a different type, most likely from the squirrel monkey, whose fur is speckled and looks olive green because of the blending of brown and white. Schiaparelli worked to incorporate unusual fabrics that expressed her unconventional design sensibility. This specialized type of fur together with the deep navy broadcloth is a chic, novel example of that idiosyncrasy.

Artist

Elsa Schiaparelli

Date

1930–35

Medium

fur, wool

Culture

French

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 1955