The Ornamented Being
Ornamented: -verb: Adorn; beautify. Be·ing: -noun: Fulfillment of possibilities; essential completeness.
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Because obviously I don’t know my fashion history well enough to say that in my opinion Kate’s gown has a Napoleonic influence.
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House of Lanvin (Alex Ceslas Rzewuski)| Fancy Dress Costume for Ganna Walska as Pauline Borghese
ca. 1926
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Empress Josephine’s bedroom at Malmaison
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“I wake filled with thoughts of you. Your portrait and the intoxicating evening which we spent yesterday have left my senses in turmoil. Sweet, incomparable Josephine, what a strange effect you have on my heart!” he writes to Josephine in 1795.
“Until then, mio dolce amor, a thousand kisses. But give me none in return, for they set my blood on fire,” the conqueror of Europe ends his letter, conceding defeat in the face of passion.
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” … and even her white satin slippers had a golden bee embroidered on each toe, surmounted by a cluster of gilt bobbin lace.”“
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“An Ornament from the Royal Imperial robe of
Napolean Bounaparte in which He was crowned Emperor of
The Gauls by the Pope Pius the 7th in the Church of Notre Dame
and purchased from the superiors of that church. Also the
Royal Robe of the Empress Maria Louisa.
By Mr Joseph Tournier December 1814
Given to me by Mr Joseph Tournier as a testimony of His Regards
John Wilson
No. 7 Boulevard des Italians
A Paris
December 16th 1814”I found this sad: “To date this is the only known item to have survived from the mantles.”
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“Not only did it cover the surface of the imperial cloaks of both the Emperor and the Empress, but Josephine‘s white satin gown was embroidered all over with golden bees.”
If you will click the portrait of Josephine the image will enlarge and you can see the bees embroidered on her gown!
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It would be best to just quote what the museum has to say in the gift shop since I’m having an issue find a good picture of the harp.
“Inspired by the bees adorning the harp of Empress Josephine
This harp, signed by Cousineau, father and son, used to belong to Empress Josephine and is now in the music room of the Château of Malmaison. It is made of mahogany and richly decorated with gilded bronze, in particular bees, which inspired these different pieces of jewellery.
When looking for new emblems to replace the royal fleur-de-lis, Napoleon chose the bee, recalling that in the 17th century, more than three hundred bees had been found in the tomb of Childeric, father of Clovis. Their social organisation and obedience to their queen appealed to him. The bee can be found on clothes, draperies, carpets, and decorative furniture bronzes.”
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“Jean-Baptiste Isabey, best known as a miniature painter, and a close friend of the Bonapartes, was charged with the design of these very important garments. He was also responsible for the design of the garments to be worn by the highest-ranking dignitaries who would attend the ceremony. Isabey found that the Childeric “bee” was too compact and too lacking in detail to give the desired effect when embroidered in a semé (all-over) pattern in gilt thread on the red velvet of the coronation cloaks. Isabey developed a new bee design in a larger size, and volant en arrière, that is, seen from the top with partially open wings. It was this design, with variations, which became the primary version of Napoleon’s bee emblem.”
(Source: regencyredingote.wordpress.com)
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Click photo for link.
Desirée (1954)
1. Marlon Brando “Napoleon Bonaparte” coronation costume
2. Merle Oberon “Empress Josephine” Coronation gown
