Between 1925 and 1928 the Stehli Silk Company commissioned several leading American artists to design textiles representing modern American life. With highly abstracted renditions of distinctly American motifs, these prints are considered some of the most innovative and important Art Deco textiles.
This dress is made from one such textile! The print is called “Falling Leaves,” and was designed by illustrator and cartoonist Ralph Barton, best known for his work in The New Yorker. The Met holds this textile in its collection. I suspect this dress is homemade, but dresses were commercially manufactured in this print, as seen in a 1925 photo, also in the met’s collection.
This dress would be an incredible addition to any Art Deco or artist textile collection.
FITS LIKE: M
BUST: 38”
WAIST: 34”
HIP: 42”
LENGTH: 43.5”
FLAWS: small mend near hem on front.