#1565 $1,650
Armenian hand-embroidered silk peignoir, 1920s
This caftan-style peignoir is fashioned from fine écru silk expertly hand worked with Aintab embroidery of matching silk floss. The neckline and sleeve openings are outlined with scalloped borders of delicate Armenian silk needle lace. This type of edging is called Oya in Turkey and Turkish lace in the West.
The craze for Orientalism in Western fashion (1910) focused attention on the decorative textile arts of the East. First came the interpretations of Eastern styles from French couture houses. Then authentic Oriental pieces for lounge wear imported by stores like Liberty & Co. made a splash on the fashion scene.
The traditional caftan shape was perfect for a flowing, loose-fitting peignoir. The transcendent beauty of our period textile (3rd picture down) makes an indelible impression. Does this wonderful effect come from the exquisite delicacy of the embroidery (4th picture down), evoking the eternally feminine? That is a secret of costume art.
The embroidery, while executed with great skill, does not always follow the faint lines of the pattern. This slight human deviation from the mechanical pattern lends a natural charm to the design.
The condition is almost excellent. I found a few small, discrete mends on one side of the sleeve opening. They are barely visible.
One size fits all. The length is 55" from the shoulder to the hem.
The condition is excellent. It is clean and ready to wear.
