Lot Description
'MARTINQUE', A STRIPED ORGANZA BALL GOWN
CHRISTIAN DIOR, 1948-9
with full, billowing skirts, gathered to a diamond in the front
labelled in bodice Christian Dior, Paris, Made in France, with canvas tag inscribed 7.004 (3)
Special Notice
VAT rate of 20% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium
Literature
Exhibited in Paris 1987, Hommage à Christian Dior, 1947-57
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Lot Notes
Compare sketch, reproduced here by kind permission of Christian Dior, illustrated in Christian Dior, L'Autre Lui-Meme, 1987, Granville, published by Arts & Culture Office of Granville, page 45-6, which shows Mme de Bord's 1978 donation to l'Union Francaise de la Couture, now part of the Musé des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, inventory number 78333. The dress is of very similar inspriration as 'Martinique' but has slightly different shoulder treatment.
Dior, by Francois Giroud, Sacha van Dorssen, Editions du Regard, 1987, page 174-5.
Hommage à Christian Dior, 1947-1957, Musée des Arts de la Mode, 19 March-4 October 1987, Paris, page 138. The catalogue states that this model bears the name 'Martinique' on the press sketches, but is called 'Élégance' on the catwalk, and was produced by the workshop of Monique and worn by Yolande on the runway. It was categorised as 'Robe d'Après Midi' internally.
This model is also discussed in Christian Dior by Diana de Marly, 1990, page 35, in which the resemblance to Worth dresses of the 1870s is highlighted.
