Ball gown 1900

This extraordinary ball gown was made by the House of Worth, the legendary Parisian couture house that dressed European royalty and high society. Constructed from silk satin, the gown’s pale pink hue provides a delicate backdrop for the elaborate gold embroidery. The gown’s design features stylized wheat stalks, a motif suggesting abundance and prosperity, rendered through meticulous handwork. The shimmering effect comes not only from the material itself, but also the techniques employed. Think about the countless hours of labor required to realize such a design. The House of Worth operated under a system where skilled artisans, often working in ateliers, executed designs conceived by the Worth family. These highly specialized makers contributed to the luxury and exclusivity associated with haute couture. The gown stands as a testament to their skill, but also the complex social dynamics of labor, class, and consumption of the time. Paying attention to materials, making, and social context allows us to fully appreciate this artwork, questioning established hierarchies between craft, design, and art.