Woman's Dress: Bodice and Skirt

Currently not on view

Woman's Dress: Bodice and Skirt

1880

Sold by Maison du Bon Marché, Paris (1852–present)

John Smith Newbold purchased this silk dress printed with a paisley pattern from the world-renowned Paris department store Bon Marché for his wife, Anna, in the summer of 1880. According to the Paris correspondent for Harper's Bazaar: "The Bon Marché gowns particularly are made up for the provincial trade, and are generally not the last thing, nor very Parisian. They are adapted to the conservative country taste which looks at the amount of 'wear' in a piece of its apparel and rather scorns frivolity." Bon Marché, which occupies an entire city block, was the model for the department store in Émile Zola's novel Au bonheur des dames, published in 1883. The same year, the Satchel Guide for the Vacation Tourist in Europe commented that "no magasins de nouveautés in the French capital is more popular with Americans who know where to spend their money to good advantage."

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Woman's Dress: Bodice and Skirt

Date:

1880

Artist:

Sold by Maison du Bon Marché, Paris (1852–present)

Medium:

Printed silk satin, blue-grey silk satin

Dimensions:

Bodice (Center Front Length): 25 inches (63.5 cm) Bodice (Waist): 25 inches (63.5 cm) Skirt (Center Front Length): 42 inches (106.7 cm)

Classification:

Costume (including accessories)

Credit Line:

Gift of Mrs. Albert Nalle, 1963

Accession Number:

1963-94-1a,b

Geography:

Made in France, Europe

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Currently not on view