Antique-Gown

MME. HAVET & MON. AGNES Tea Gown, Paris, ca. 1912

Traumhaftes antikes Teekleid aus Spitze und Seide, ca. 1912. Pariser Label: Havet & Agnés. Das Kleid ist im typischen Titanic-Stil angefertigt: eng anliegend, spitz zulaufende Schleppe, hohe Taille. Auffallend ist die große Schleife aus rosafarbener Seide im Brustbereich. Gürtel aus Seide – mit einer Schleife auf der Rückseite. Halblange Ärmel, U-förmiger (freier) Brustausschnitt. Aufwendiger Verschluss mit Haken, Ösen und Druckknöpfen. Dieses antike Kleid konnte unmöglich allein angezogen und geschlossen werden. Sehr gut erhalten. Der Seiden-Saumbereich des Oberteils ist verschlissen. Da der Rock jedoch über diesem Saumbereich angebracht wird, sieht man nichts von dem Verschleiß. Dezente Alters- und Tragespuren. Die Dekoration ist nicht inbegriffen.

A haute couture house founded by Agnés ca. 1898. From the October 3, 1898 New York Sun: “MME. AGNES Formerly a designer of the house of Doucet, she recently founded a business of her own, which her superb abilities and her charming personality rendered instantly successful.” Her publicized clients included the Queen of Holland. Agnés’ models were sold in the US by John Wanamaker as early as 1898 – 1899. The earliest label found so far is c. 1910-12, and shows an address at 23, Rue Louis-le-Grand, Paris.
By 1909, Les Modes refers to Mme. Havet as the Directrice of the House of Agnés. Mme Havet had previously had her own house, also as of 1898, although she had designed for other dressmakers previously. Mme. Havet’s clients under her own name included the Empress of Russia. Her success and drawing power were sufficient for her name to appear on the label. From 1909 on, the house is referred to as “La Maison Agnés, Mme Havet Directrice”. The house moved to 7 rue Auber, and the label was changed to Mme Havet Agnés 7 Rue Auber by the mid teens, quite possibly earlier. The fate of the founder, Agnés, is unknown at this time. James McCreery and Harry Angelo carried their models in the USA, and the house was popular with American clients (pastperfectvintage).

Waist: ~ 60 cm
Bust: ~ 88 cm
Front Length: ~ 145 cm
Back Length: ~ 160 cm