{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O357272"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O357272/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PE9401/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PE9401/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PE9401","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PE9396","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PE9397","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PE9404","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PE9403","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PE9402","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GA0581","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O357272","accessionNumber":"T.233-1964","objectType":"Coat","titles":[{"title":"A Modern Comedy","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) was one of the world’s revolutionary fashion designers. Her   couture house, one of the most discussed of interwar Paris, redefined fashionable taste and   perceptions of beauty in the 20th century. With no formal training, she launched her first fashion collection in 1927. Her bold, often audacious, haute couture creations soon made her the designer   of choice for a confident clientele. Within five years, Maison Schiaparelli employed 400 staff   who created over 7000 couture garments each year.  \n\r\nOften designing to confront and shock, Schiaparelli’s radical approach embraced the new   and experimental, resulting in clothes that were resolutely modern. Perhaps more than any   fashion designer of the era, Schiaparelli urged textile manufacturers to bring her their   newest and best materials. At the same time, Schiaparelli’s impact extended beyond   fashion and she possessed a vibrant artistic sensibility. Embedded within Europe’s creative   avantgarde, she positioned her work in direct dialogue with art, design and performance. Her collaborations with artists, including Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau and Meret Oppenheim, led to   some of her most radical and memorable designs for clothing, accessories and jewellery. In 1954, Schiaparelli officially retired and closed the doors of her couture salon. She left an enduring mark on the world of fashion and a creative legacy that spanned the   cities of Paris, London and New York.\n\nThis coat was part of Schiaparelli's Spring 1939 A Modern Comedy collection and features theatre masks for buttons.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Blue-black woollen coat trimmed with velvet ribbon and silver fox fur. Mid-calf length with a fitted waist and flared, and with a V-neck trimmed with draped ribbon and flanked by two circular fur mounts. The ribbon drapes down the left hand side to the hip where there is a circular silver fox fur pocket. Fastens with three buttons in the form of masks. Long and plain sleeves. Lined in black silk.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Elsa Schiaparelli","id":"A2375"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wool","id":"AAT243430"},{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"velvet ribbon","id":"x34768"},{"text":"fur (fox)","id":"x41185"}],"techniques":[{"text":"tailoring","id":"x39134"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wool, velvet ribbon, silver fox fur, lined with silk","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"},{"text":"Day wear","id":"THES49000"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2025PE9401","2025PE9396","2025PE9397","2025PE9404","2025PE9403","2025PE9402","2013GA0581"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SAINS","id":"THES276095"},"free":"","case":"FIG007","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Coat","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 1938","earliest":"1938-06-01","latest":"1938-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Hon. Mrs H. Sherek","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Schiaparelli. London","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On label stitched inside the left side seam"}],"objectHistory":"Elsa Schiaparelli (1890–1973) was one of the world’s revolutionary fashion designers. Her couture house, one of the most discussed of interwar Paris, redefined fashionable taste and perceptions of beauty in the 20th century.  With no formal training, she launched her first fashion collection in 1927. Her bold, often audacious, haute couture creations soon made her the designer of choice for a confident clientele. Within five years, Maison Schiaparelli employed 400 staff who created over 7000 couture garments each year.  \r\n\r\nOften designing to confront and shock, Schiaparelli’s radical approach embraced the new and experimental, resulting in clothes that were resolutely modern. Perhaps more than any fashion designer of the era, Schiaparelli urged textile manufacturers to bring her their newest and best materials. At the same time, Schiaparelli’s impact extended beyond fashion and she possessed a vibrant artistic sensibility. Embedded within Europe’s creative avantgarde, she positioned her work in direct dialogue with art, design and performance. Her collaborations with artists, including Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau and Meret Oppenheim, led to some of her most radical and memorable designs for clothing, accessories and jewellery. In 1954, Schiaparelli officially retired and closed the doors of her couture salon. She left an enduring mark on the world of fashion and a creative legacy that spanned the cities of Paris, London and New York.  ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Woollen coat trimmed with velvet ribbon and silver fox fur, designed by Elsa Schiaparelli, Paris, Spring 1939 (\"A Modern Comedy\" or \"Commedia dell'Arte,\" presented October 1938)","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<i><b>Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art </b></i><b>(March - November 2026)</b>\n\nPamela Carme\nCentre stage\n\nThis coat was worn by Pamela Carme, a British socialite turned star of the stage. As the wife of Henry Sherek, a leading director and producer in London’s West End, she spent much of her married life in theatres. This was reflected in her wardrobe choices, such as this elegant garment with buttons shaped like comedy and tragedy masks.\n\nElsa Schiaparelli\r\nSpring 1939, A Modern Comedy collection\r\nParis\r\nWool, velvet, silver fox fur (coat); painted metal (buttons)\r\nV&amp;A: T.233-1964\r\nGiven by the Honourable Pamela Sherek","date":{"text":"2026","earliest":"2026-01-01","latest":"2026-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["T.233-1964"],"accessionNumberNum":"233","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1964,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-08-04","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":false}}