The Ornamented Being

The ladies déshabillé theme won by a landslide! I would also like to announce that I have changed the time period to cover the Victorians through the 20s and I may throw in a 30s piece just for fun.

Wedding Lingerie

 c.1929

Met

AN ART DECO DIAMOND TIARA, BY CARTIER Designed as a series of graduated diamond-set scrolls, each suspending pear-shaped diamond flexible pendants, centering upon a lozenge-shaped diamond, 1920s, inner diameter 12.0 cm, in red leather fitted Cartier case Signed Cartier London (Image from Christies)

In April I started to panic because I had three massive hats I needed to take on the train for my 1912 fashion lecture.  I logged on, found a lovely vintage green hatbox, paid ten quid for it and promptly forgot about the problem.  The hatbox arrived a week later and I was panicked because my Merry Widow hat box ended up being a Cloche hat box.  I figured it wasn’t worth the hassle of returning it and the box was so lovely I couldn’t bear to return it.  The label was in perfect condition and the ombre green satin ribbons looked like they had never been touched.  The turning point was when I opened the box.  The scent of the most beautiful flowers danced around my room and I knew the box had found a home.  So it became my jewelry box and like most of the piece I own, it became a cherished piece of history that I was in charge of. 

THEN last night I was working on the new blog post and found the photo I just posted above (unfortunately the box in the photo doesn’t look like it’s seen the best of days) accompanied by this text:  ”The elegant paper label reads..

Fleurs, Plumes, Coiffures

JUDITH BARBIER

7, Rue Pasquier Paris

…upon the marvelous oval hatbox of green carton, complete with a lid and rayon ribbon carrying strap. Founded in Paris in 1895, Judith Barbier offered jewelry, hats artificial flowers and other creations to the carriage trade.

In very good condition save for normal wear and slight fading, and perfect for use in a display.

Measure: 4” high x 6 1/4” wide x 4 1/4” deep … 

AND THIS PRICE:

“$185.00”

A quick wiki translation from the original French text tells me that “Judith Barbier house is a house designers of ornaments, hats , artificial flowers for high fashion in the early twentieth ^century.  The house has also released several fragrancesunder his own label in the 1920s. Judith Barber SA was founded in 1895 in Paris in the 20th century, at 7 rue Pasquier. Several flavors (Sheet Black Barbier des Isles, Jasmin) were created in 1927 Home, artisanal debut has industrialized the production under the direction of Alfred and Jean Martory Martory .House Judith Barbier known in many countries , provided several courts of Europe, Houses Cartier Christian Dior , Chanel , Balenciaga ^, , it has grown to international selling some of her creations at Macy’s in New York.”

Who knew my little box had such a wonderful history?

“Silk base with period 1920s beaded fringe, period embroidered tulle with lame and appliqued beadwork.”

c.1920

Maison Agnès, Beaded & Embroidered Evening Dress of Green Watered Silk, Paris, c. 1925.