Belt
Schiaparelli often used her accessories, particularly belts, as avenues of expression for her Surrealist ideals. Buckles, clasps, decorations and belts themselves were made of unusual materials, such as plastic and plaster, and in quirky shapes that could elicit a viewer’s double-take. To pair such an off-beat accessory with a couture garment was just the kind of humorous irony Schiaparelli enjoyed incorporating into her work.
In Surrealism, marine motifs such as shells, crustaceans and fish abound. A subtle example of that practice is this belt, owned by Millicent Rogers. The detailed seashell forms that, together with the gilt metal hook, act as the fastener are beautifully and intricately made. The shells are made of composition, a material Schiaparelli often experimented with in her closures and an example of her desire to seek out new and exciting materials. The adjustability of the gilt metal hook and eye is unique, exemplar of Schiaparelli's artistic flair.
In Surrealism, marine motifs such as shells, crustaceans and fish abound. A subtle example of that practice is this belt, owned by Millicent Rogers. The detailed seashell forms that, together with the gilt metal hook, act as the fastener are beautifully and intricately made. The shells are made of composition, a material Schiaparelli often experimented with in her closures and an example of her desire to seek out new and exciting materials. The adjustability of the gilt metal hook and eye is unique, exemplar of Schiaparelli's artistic flair.
Artwork Details
- Title: Belt
- Design House: Schiaparelli (French, founded 1927)
- Designer: Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973)
- Date: ca. 1938
- Culture: French
- Medium: leather, metal
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 1955
- Object Number: 2009.300.3527
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
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Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
fall/winter 1937–38
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
summer 1940
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
1936–37
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
fall 1937
Schiaparelli
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