Belle Époque Swirling Scroll Scarf

Description

The design on our scarf is adapted from an original dress by the French House of Worth (1858–1956) from around 1898–1900. A superb example of dressmaking, the gown exhibits the aesthetic of the last years of the nineteenth century. The fashionable reverse S-curve silhouette of the dress and the dramatic scroll pattern of the textile reflect the influence of the Art Nouveau movement, and the striking graphic juxtaposition of the curving black velvet on an ivory satin ground creates the illusion of ironwork.

Silk satin. Reversible. Imported. 59'' x 10''.

Art History

Charles Frederick Worth (French [b. England], 1826–95), whose rise as a designer coincided with the establishment of the Second Empire in France, dominated Parisian fashion in the latter half of the nineteenth century. His aggressive self-promotion earned him the titles “father of haute couture” and “the first couturier,” and by the 1870s, his name frequently appeared in ordinary fashion magazines, spreading his fame to women beyond courtly circles. He is especially known for preparing a variety of designs that were shown on live models at the House of Worth (French, 1858–1956).