#2441 $800
Hand-embroidered flapper dress, late 1920s
The lovely dress offers us the best of both worlds. The simple unstructured style is effortlessly modern; the abundance of fine hand embroidery and handmade lace is a treasure of antique needle art.
The dress is fashioned from sheer ivory-colored cotton voile. The fullness in the torso is controlled with numerous pin tucks, both front and back. The skirt is open on the sides up to the thigh. The T-shirt style dress slips over the head with no closures.
The skirt is hand embroidered with a graphic black-and-white pattern of grapes and exotic fruits. The tropical motif (4th picture down) is of the last degree of charm. The carefree, whimsical style conveys the joyful exhilaration of the late 1920s.
The sides and hem are bordered with hand-knotted net lace hand embroidered with floral vines (3rd picture from bottom.) The embroidery on the net lace, a delicate airy cloth, is executed with a skill and refinement of breathtaking beauty, lending the dress an endearing, feminine charm.
Hand embroidery on a net ground has been in use for centuries. In the second half of the 18th century, it became popular with the introduction of machine made nets. By 1800 net grounds were perfected to be durable over time, providing the ideal foundation for embroidered art.
The condition is almost excellent. On the lace are a few age spots, which are barely noticeable and do not spoil the appearance of the dress.
It measures: 44" bust and waist, 52" hip, and 49" from shoulder to hem. The dress, meant to be loose fitting, was photographed on a mannequin that measures 36" bust, 25" waist, and 36" hip.
