{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O362554"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O362554/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O362554","accessionNumber":"T.733-1972","objectType":"Dress","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This gown belonged to the famous Italian actor Eleonora Duse (1858-1924), noted for her association with the poet and playwright Gabriele d'Annunzio. Duse was a great friend of the designer Mariano Fortuny (1871-1949) and was known for the fact that she used very little make-up in an age where acting demanded dramatic costumes and disguise. Duse was the first woman to appear on the cover of Time magazine in July 1923.\r\n\r\nIt may have been purchased from Vitaldi Babani, a designer-importer who launched his business in 1895. His shop 'Babani' was situated at 98 Boulevard Haussman. Along with the designer Paul Poiret, Babani was licensed to sell Fortuny designs in Paris. In addition to retailing Fortuny designs, Babani sold Liberty textiles and produced fabrics and garments of his own design that bore the influence of these designers.\r\n\r\nThis garment could be by Fortuny, a painter, theatre designer, photographer, inventor and scientist who is best known as a creator of extraordinary fabrics and clothes. His distinctive creations were worn by avant-garde beauties throughout the world from about 1910 to the 1930s.","physicalDescription":"Dress of grey/blue silk with a silver stencilled pattern. The seams are finished with cord threaded through blue glass beads and the shoulders can be adjusted with hooks and eyes.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Mariano Fortuny","id":"A2154"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":"possibly"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Babani","id":"A18458"},"association":{"text":"retailers","id":"AAT25246"},"note":"possibly"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver stencilled silk, cord threaded through glass beads","categories":[{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"},{"text":"Womenswear","id":"THES49044"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"010","id":"THES305602"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Dress","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"},{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"retailed","id":"x30772"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1920","earliest":"1915-01-01","latest":"1924-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Fr. Sebastian Bullough","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Dress of silk, possibly designed by Mariano Fortuny, possibly made in Italy, possibly retailed by Babani in Paris, ca. 1920 ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.733-1972"],"accessionNumberNum":"733","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1972,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-05","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}