{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O316086"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O316086/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MU4647/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2020MU4647/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2020MU4647","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O316086/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O316086","accessionNumber":"T.34-1945","objectType":"Evening dress","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This 1903 white silk evening dress was worn by an unknown woman. It is comprised of a separate bodice and skirt with elaborate metal thread embroidery. The silhouette is typical of this period with voluminous sleeves and a bell-shaped skirt to enhance the curves of the figure.  According to the label on the dress, it was made by M. E. Humble. M. E. Humble was a court dressmaker and ladies tailoring business run by Mary Elizabeth Hall – maiden name Humble. She was born in 1860 in a town near Newcastle Upon Tyne, to a farming family, as one of eight children. Mary married a manufacturing agent named William Watts Hall in 1888 in Castle Ward, Northumberland and it would appear that they moved to London sometime before the birth of their first child, Edith, in 1890.  \r\n \r\nMary’s dressmaking business was run from the family home, which was located at 19 Conduit Street, Bond Street, close to Savile row and Oxford Circus– areas famous for bespoke tailored menswear and the heart of the fashion retail industry. This was the place in which Mary and William conducted their business between approximately 1891-1905 and according to the 1891 census, three dressmakers were in her employment. The couple appear to have owned multiple properties within London. In a London directory William Hall is registered as the owner of a property in Mill Street, Mayfair, for his work as a manufacturing agent. In addition to this the family also seem to have lived at Wellington Road in St John’s Wood,  \r\nBetween 1906 and 1910, the family moved to 70 Canfield Gardens in West Hampstead. William Hall was then a manufacturing agent for a French embroiderer and court dressmaker.  This address remained, according to censuses, the last documented residence of Mary and William.   \r\nThe business advertised in London newspapers between 1892 and 1895. These were featured in publications such as Truth and Gentlewomen. Earlier advertisements describe M. E. Humble as court dressmakers and high-class ladies' tailor with ‘original and exclusive styles,’ including fitted dresses, mantles and coats, as well as featuring the prices, in addition to stating that their products were inexpensive for young ladies. The company also offered in 1892 and 1893, sketches, fabric samples and prices to be sent to ladies living outside of London in more rural areas. Later publications included press opinions, seasonal fashion promotions including travel attire and fur wraps and coats. The advertisements frequently mention reception dresses, promenade toilettes (walking dresses) as well as visiting and carriage mantles (cloaks).  \r\n \r\nAfter the death of her husband William in 1920, Mary Hall appears to have remained at their home in Hampstead until 1925, but no further records of her life have been found. ","physicalDescription":"Evening dress with a cream lace bodice, with a white silk band at the waist. The bodice has short puff sleeves and is decorated with silver thread embroidery on white silk and lined with silk. The skirt is white silk, elaborately embroidered with silver thread. It is lined with a silk petticoat and weighted and padded at the bottom","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Humble, Mary Elizabeth","id":"AUTH400053"},"association":{"text":"designed and made by","id":"x28674"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"metal thread","id":"x30421"},{"text":"lace","id":"AAT132861"},{"text":"silver thread","id":"x29414"}],"techniques":[{"text":"dress-making","id":"AAT53650"},{"text":"embroidering","id":"AAT53653"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Evening wear","id":"THES48999"},{"text":"Embroidery","id":"THES48960"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2020MU4647"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES404993"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES404993"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Evening skirt","id":""}],[{"text":"Evening bodice","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1903","earliest":"1898-01-01","latest":"1907-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Miss M D Wood","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"41.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"bodice","note":"converted from department register"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"118.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"skirt","note":"converted from department register"},{"dimension":"Length","value":"27.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"train","note":"converted from department register"},{"dimension":"Circumference","value":"63.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"waist","note":"converted from department register"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'M. E. Humble / Robes et Manteaux / 12 Conduit St London W.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Woven label attached to waist tape of bodice"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Evening dress, ca. 1903, English, Mrs Humble, white silk with metal thread embroidery","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.34-1945","T.34A-1945"],"accessionNumberNum":"34","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1945,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Evening skirt","Evening bodice"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-15","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}