The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Ball gown

Designer Charles James American

1954

Not on view

James designed this dramatic gown a year after his "Four-Leaf Clover" ball gown, an engineering and sculptural masterpiece featuring an undulating four-lobed skirt flounce (2009.300.779). Here, he spiraled an equally sculptural flounce around the body from upper hip to hem, not unlike the spiraling skirt of the brown taffeta cocktail dress also illustrated here (2009.300.213), achieving a structure whose form changes from every vantage point.

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

Ball gown, Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978), silk, American

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Ball gown

Designer: Charles James (American, born Great Britain, 1906–1978)

Date: 1954

Culture: American

Medium: silk

Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Jean de Menil, 1955

Accession Number: 2009.300.3522

Chronology

The United States and Canada, 1900 A.D.-present

The Met's Libraries and Research Centers provide unparalleled resources for research and welcome an international community of students and scholars.

The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can connect to the most up-to-date data and public domain images for The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

The Met

The Costume Institute at The Met

The Costume Institute's collection of more than 33,000 costumes and accessories represents five continents and seven centuries of fashionable dress and accessories for men, women, and children.