{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1328438"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1328438/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JP7388/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JP7388/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JP7388","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JP7389","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JP7393","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JP7392","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JP7397","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JP7398","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JP7399","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JP7402","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1328438/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1328438","accessionNumber":"T.88-2016","objectType":"Ball gown","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Norman Hartnell (1901-1979) is well known for his designs for H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, and was the  designer of her wedding dress in 1947 and her coronation robes in 1953. He produced two couture  collections a year from his salon in Bruton Street from 1924, and dressed various British royal clients from  1935 to 1979. He also designed ready-to-wear collections and licensed perfumes, lingerie and costume  jewellery bearing his name and made by franchises around the world.\r\n\nThe V&amp;A has an extensive collection of Hartnell garments, including day wear, evening gowns and wedding  dresses, many of which feature the various types of floral decoration which characterised his evening dresses. This dress is a variation from Hartnell's typical style, as a sheath dress, as opposed to the full-skirted crinoline style he usually created for royal and aristocratic clients. The  embroidery, representing seaweed, coral and shells, spreads asymmetrically down from the bodice, and is an unusual  departure from Hartnell’s more typical formalised, regular designs.\r\n\r\nThe dress was worn by Lady Zia Wernher, Countess Anastasia Mikhailovna de Torby, CBE (1892-1977), the elder daughter of Grand Duke  Michael Mikhailovich of Russia, a grandson of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, by Countess Sophie of Merenberg. Countess  Anastasia de Torby married British Major-General Sir Harold Wernher, 3rd Bt on 20 July 1917. They lived at Luton Hoo,  Bedfordshire. The dress is thought to have been worn to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 but further research is needed to confirm  this association.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Hartnell. Norman","id":"A5860"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"shell","id":"AAT11829"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2016JP7388","2016JP7389","2016JP7393","2016JP7392","2016JP7397","2016JP7398","2016JP7399","2016JP7402"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES404285"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"ballgown","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"designed and made","id":"x39722"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c1953","earliest":"1948-01-01","latest":"1957-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Francesca Galloway","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"133.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Centre front to hem","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"132.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Centre back to hem","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Straps","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"38.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Waist","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Norman Hartnell, London, 1953. Blue-green silk ballgown with applique, beadwork and embroidery representing shells and seaweed. Worn by Lady Zia Wernher, possibly for the 1953 Coronation.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"\n[Fashion Gallery Display]\n\n<b>Ball dress\nNorman Hartnell (1901-1979)\nProbably 1953</b>\n\nIn London, fashion was led by court dressmakers like Norman Hartnell, who designed for Queen Elizabeth II. Demand for his embroidered formal dresses was stimulated by the Season, a series of exclusive social and sporting events enjoyed by aristocratic families each summer. This trained 'sheath' dress is a contrast to the romantic 'crinoline' gowns Hartnell was known for. Its sea-side themed embroidery is also an unusual departure. \n\nLondon\nSilk embroidered with silk and metal threads, beads and paillettes\n\nWorn by Lady Zia Wernher\nGiven by Francesca Galloway\nMuseum no. T.88-2016","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["T.88-2016"],"accessionNumberNum":"88","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":2016,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-27","recordCreationDate":"2016-01-15","availableToBook":false}}