Items Similar to Motene (Fashion)
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
UnknownMotene (Fashion)1923
1923
About the Item
House of Bernard (French Fashion)
Founded 1905. Paris, France.
Watercolor over pencil.
Some with gold or silver leaf highlights
Coats, 1923. Evening dresses, 1926.
Framed to museum specifications.
French fashion has influenced men and women, kings and queen, rich and poor throughout time. Tumultuous as any history, the beginning of the 20th century saw yet another revolution in the style of dress. The most famous name in fashion design became Coco Chanel. Her creations inspired the world. While she had no equals, she had many rivals. One such competitor was the House of Bernard. The art of fashion design is first conceived by the imagination; only then can it be translated into fabrics. Along the way various sketches fly across the pages to "try on" various details, the flip of a hem, the trim on a sleeve. At last, when all is complete to the satisfaction of the designer whose name it will bear, it is committed to paper in exacting detail in color and proportion.
Watercolor renderings from the House of Bernard are the completed illustrations representing the 1923 coat and 1926 evening dress collections. It was from these pages that women of fortune (or luck) would select the creations which would enhance the image they choose to express to the world. The fashions are drawn on watercolor paper in graphite, inked by hand and finally the paints are applied. There is a sketch, uncolored, of the back view of each outfit, en verso. Each outfit is painstakingly detailed with embroidery, beaded or fur trims. Accessories (hats, gloves, shoes, jewels) are chosen as compliments. And finally, it is the pose and countenance of the mannequin which expresses the whim of the designer and his inexhaustible imagination.
Each illustration has been carefully removed from its catalogue by a conservator. The paper size is 9 1/14" x 12 3/8". The pages were bound in hard covers by way of tipping them in at their left margins; literally pasting them individually to a separate narrow page which was bound to the covers. This results in a glue mark on their left edge when removed from the binding. No chemical cleaning has been applied to remove the glue as the resulting effect would be to diminish the intensity of the paints. Each illustration is in superb original condition with full margins and bright original watercolors, some highlighted with gold leaf.
A stunning collection of illustrations from the House of Bernard can be found at the Brooklyn Museum in their Libraries and Archives: Fashion and Costume Sketch Collection, 1912-1950.
Bernard et Cie
Founded in 1905 at 31 Avenue de l’Opera. From Dressmakers of France: the who, how, and why of the French couture, by Picken and Miller: “He was originally a tailor, so inevitably the tendency was toward the simple, tailored lines. The firm was established in 1905 by Bernard in partnership with M. Jourda and M. Hirsch. His work was favored by the Parisienne and after the end of Word War I he was “discovered” by the American buyers.” By 1914, M. Jourda is referred to as the head of the house. The NY Times first mentions the house in 1908 - 1909. Saks and Co. carried copies, as did Macy’s, who referred to the house as one of the “leading European houses“. From the Oct. 4,1914 NY Times: “…all the men who are in business were at the war. Poiret, the two younger Worth’s, Bechoff, Martial, Bulloz, the one time head of the House of Beer, Jouda, the head of Bernard”.
Bonwit Teller carried models, with prices as high as $550. Oct 10, 1915 NY Times: “Bernard, who is always an American favorite, has a collection of more than 100 modes”. According to Fairchild’s, the house address was 33 Avenue de l’Opera in 1920. L’Officiel showed their models from 1921 - 1936. The House is listed at 33 Avenue de l’Opera until 1926, and at 35 Avenue de l’Opera in 1926 - 1927. Tres Parisien showed models in 1931 and 1933. There are no mentions after 1936. The heyday of the house would have been the Teens and 20s.
Dressmakers of France. Mary Brooks Picken, Dora Loues Miller. Harper & Brothers. 1956.
- Creation Year:1923
- Dimensions:Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Clean, crisp image. Beautiful original watercolor. Framed to museum specifications using archival matting, backing, and hinging. Silk matting with wooden frame. Glazed with ultra-violet filtering Plexiglas.
- Gallery Location:Florham Park, NJ
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
1stDibs seller since 2014
163 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Florham Park, NJ
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Jacket and HatBy KlimkoLocated in Florham Park, NJKlimko (signed) USA, c1938 Watercolor over pencil. Fashion has influenced men and women, kings and queen, rich and poor throughout time. Tumultuous as any history, the beginni...Category
1930s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsWatercolor
- VertideLocated in Florham Park, NJHouse of Bernard Founded 1905. Watercolor over pencil. Some with gold or silver leaf highlights Paris, France. Coats, 1923. Evening dresses, 1926. French fashion has influe...Category
1920s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsSilver
- Hat and ScarfBy KlimkoLocated in Florham Park, NJKlimko USA, c1938 Watercolor over pencil. Fashion has influenced men and women, kings and queen, rich and poor throughout time. Tumultuous as any history, the beginning of the...Category
1930s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsWatercolor
- DelicesLocated in Florham Park, NJHouse of Bernard Founded 1905. Watercolor over pencil. Some with gold or silver leaf highlights Paris, France. Coats, 1923. Evening dresses, 1926. French fashion has influe...Category
1920s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsSilk, Archival Paper, Archival Tape, Ink, Paper, Pen, Plexiglass, Rag Pa...
- RieuseLocated in Florham Park, NJHouse of Bernard Founded 1905. Watercolor over pencil. Some with gold or silver leaf highlights Paris, France. Coats, 1923. Evening dresses, 1926. French fashion has influe...Category
1920s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsWatercolor, Archival Paper, Archival Tape, Paper, Plexiglass, Rag Paper,...
- BercailLocated in Florham Park, NJHouse of Bernard Founded 1905. Paris, France. Watercolor over pencil. Some with gold or silver leaf highlights Coats, 1923. Evening dresses, 1926. French fashion has influenc...Category
1920s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsWatercolor
You May Also Like
- Young boy with carafe by Heinrich Rettig - Watercolor on paper 60x76 cmLocated in Geneva, CHWatercolor on paper sold with frame Total size with frame 73x89 cm Heinrich RETTIG is an artist born in Germany in 1859 and died in 1921. His works have been sold at public auction ...Category
Early 20th Century Academic Portrait Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsWatercolor
- Still Life with Thistles Watercolor Painting by Marie Benoit-LevyLocated in Atlanta, GAMarie Benoit-Levy (France, 20th Century). This lovely watercolor on Arches Vellum paper painting features still-life with thistles and a blue water pot, an academic design by Marie B...Category
1930s Academic Still-life Paintings
MaterialsWatercolor
- “Provincetown Harbor”By John Cuthbert HareLocated in Southampton, NYBeautiful original watercolor of Provincetown Harbor in first light by the well known artist John Cuthbert Hare. Signed lower right. Condition is excellent. The watercolor is hou...Category
1950s Academic Landscape Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsArchival Paper, Watercolor
- “Cape Neddick Light”By John Cuthbert HareLocated in Southampton, NYOriginal watercolor on archival paper of the Cape Neddick Lighthouse in York, Maine. Signed lower right. Circa 1950. Condition is very good. Several tiny spots of foxing. The wa...Category
1950s Academic Landscape Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsArchival Paper, Watercolor
- Street Costumes, Gay Nineties Fashion - Female IllustratorLocated in Miami, FLStreet Costumes by Ruth Kreps. Signed lower right. Most likely for a book published in the 1930's about turn of the century women's fashion. "Costume Design of the Gay Nineties" T...Category
1930s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors
MaterialsWatercolor, Board, Ink
- “Mallards 2”By Alan FarrellLocated in Southampton, NYMiniature watercolor painting on arches paper of a pair of mallards done by the very well known miniature artist, Allan Farrell. Exhibited at the Royal Miniature Society exhibition i...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings
MaterialsWatercolor, Archival Paper
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Archive Fashion
Antique Fashion
Fashion Show Art
Fashion Design Drawings
Fashion Designer Paper
Bear Fashion
Fashion Art Sketches
Costume Fashion Design
Men Fashion Art
Mens Fashion Art
Fashion Mannequin
Fashion Paintings Sketches
Paris Fashion Drawing
French Academic Drawing
American Fashion Designers
Fashion Design Sketches
Watercolor Rendering
Fashion Model Drawing