Created by
Unidentified
Owned by
Davis, Ann Lamb, 1911 - 2002
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1920s
Medium
silk crepe, glass beads, metal, cording, metallic thread, and wood
Dimensions
Length: (Shoulder to hem) 47" (119.4 cm)
Width (Shoulder to shoulder): 20 in. (50.8 cm)
Description
A drop waist dress with a boatneck made from magenta silk crepe with a beaded grid pattern decorating the front and back bust. The front bust is one panel, sewn to the back panel at the side seams. There are three snaps closures at the right shoulder. A grid pattern made with clear glass seed beads covers the front of the bust and has hanging beaded loops at every other grid corner. There is a decorative belt attached to the dropped waistline made from one panel of gold lame and one panel of pink silk crepe loosely twisted together. A pink crepe rosette is attached on the proper right of the waist band and a gold tassel made from cording wrapped with gold metallic thread hangs from the crepe rosette. The waistband joins together under the rosette with two metal hooks and eyes. There are five metal snap closures on the proper left waist that extend down to the skirt. The front of the skirt is composed of five panels that alternate between non-beaded and beaded decorations that extend down to the hem of the skirt. Each panel narrows at the waist and gradually widens as it reaches the hem, creating a wide skirt. The back bust panel also covered with the beaded grid pattern. The back of the skirt contains four panels of alternating beaded and non-beaded panels. The dress features a sleeveless slip lining made from silk crepe. The lining has thin straps and metal snap closures on the proper left side. All seams of the dress have been machine stitched together.
Cataloging Notes
This project received Federal support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum.
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing - Fashion and Historical
Type
dresses
Topic
Clothing and dress
Fashion
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Object number
2007.3.622
Restrictions & Rights
Public domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5f193551e-c9e9-46b6-b1f5-67876bd9b10b

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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