Description:
Fashion engravings or plates, so named because they were originally engraved illustrations in magazines, were a major sourse of news about changing styles of dress in the late 18th century and all of the 19th century. More economical to produce and ship than earlier fashion dolls, (known as fashion babies in England and poupees des modes in France), fashion engravings cuold be used by amateur sewers and experienced dressmakers alike to reproduce elements of current fashion. Since the mid-late 17th century, France led the way in the innovation of new styles, which were communicated through the publication of new fashion images. These French modes were then enthusiastically copied by English publications as well as other European countries. Fashion engravings made their way to America, where colonists, and later citizens of the United States, still eagerly sought fashion information from abroad. Taken as a whole, they help document changing tastes in fashion and its consumption in France, England, and the United States. This example is titled "LA SYLPHIDE." The description of the fashions depicted is written in French, adding further cache and close assoication with France for the items shown. The text also informs reader where they may purchase/patronize those fashions, as modern fashion magazines do today. The text reads "Toilettes de la Mme Saint Amanda Ne 1 Bt des Italiens. Passementeries de Riou R. St. Denis. 268. Coiffures de Leroy R de Seine. 51. Fleurs de Guelot & Harvand [?] r. Ne St. Augustin 3. Gants Privat 41 Nue St. Augustin." The fashion plate was part of a monthly issue of the Columbia Magazine. Publication information also includes "[illeg.] annee 2c serie 4 vole ge liven."
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2016.9.38 |
