Antique-Gown

Bustled Silk Dress, ca. 1874

Bustled silk gown, ca. 1874. Royal purple faille trimmed throughout with white grosgrain ribbon, peplum bodice having pleated neckline with lace trim, pleated cuffs and bow details, ruched sides; trained skirt with self swag over three bands of pleats, the back having vertical white ribbon inserts and pleated ruffles, color suggests possibly mourning. Very good to excellent condition. Lace torn at back of neck, one cuff unstitched, one bow pinned to cuff, scattered seam separations. The decoration is not included.

Worn by Miss Hermione Gingold in "The Woman in Fashion", 1949, plate XXXVIII, page 88. Hermione Gingold (9 December 1897 – 24 May 1987) was an English actress known for her sharp-tongued, eccentric persona. Her signature drawling, deep voice was a result of nodes on her vocal cords she developed in the 1920s and early 1930s. After a successful career as a child actress, she later established herself on the stage as an adult, playing in comedy, drama and experimental theatre, and broadcasting on the radio. She found her milieu in revue, which she played from the 1930s to the 1950s, co-starring several times with Hermione Baddeley. Later she played formidable elderly characters in such films and stage musicals as Gigi (1958), Bell, Book and Candle (1958), The Music Man (1962) and A Little Night Music (1973). She became well known as a guest on television talk shows. She made further appearances in revue and toured in plays and musicals until an accident ended her performing career in 1977 (Wikipedia).

Provenance: Helen Larson Collection (purchased from Doris Langley Moore). Helen Larson was a collector based in Whittier, California. She owned a successful film costume rental business and amassed a world-renowned private collection of historic fashion. She was a brilliant connoisseur and historian.

Bust: ~ 90 cm
Waist: ~ 69 cm
Front Length: ~ 142 cm
Back Length: ~ 230 cm