Scarf

Beaurepoire|Jacques Griffe

ca. 1955 · silk · Costume Institute

Jacques Griffe began his career in fashion apprenticing for a tailor in his hometown of Carcassonne, France. He then went to work for a couturier, Mirra, in Toulouse, who followed the Paris collections. After fulfilling his military service, he went to work with Vionnet from 1936-1939, as a cutter, and it was here that he perfected the technique of draping and executing design ideas on a small mannequin. In 1942, he opened his own house in Paris in the rue Gaillon, later moving to 29, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. After Molyneux's retirement in 1950, Griffe moved into his rooms at 5, rue Royale. Griffe is remembered as a master in draping and cut and understanding the relationship between the fabric and the body. This fine scarf is an example of one of the customized scarves made especially for couture houses to give to their most loyal clients. This particular scarf depicts the House of Griffe as well as its surrounding environs and is signed by the designer himself.

Artist

Beaurepoire|Jacques Griffe

Date

ca. 1955

Medium

silk

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 Joseph McCrindle, 1960