Orientalist Wardrobe - Persian Miniatures etc...

You know, looking at it as a *whole* like that, it's possible that the horse's position over the roofs/domes is intentional, and that it's a reference to one of the most famous Arabian Nights stories, with a flying horse (no wings).

There are earlier examples of prints referencing that story. I can't dredge the details out of the bottom of my brain right now... And here's Dulac's illustration:

dulac_descent.jpg



Here's more on Edmund Dulac:

Dulac and Art Nouveau

Cute shirt!

L
 
40s Bodhisattva Pastiche?

This lovely dress was sold to me as home-sewn, but it actually has a little R&K Originals 'Personally Yours' label tucked in the collar.

I need some opinions on this - the little female figures... they look slightly Buddhist (more specifically than just generically south-east Asian). If I had to be a total nerd about this, could I call this a Bodhisattva pastiche??

randkorientalclose.jpg


randkorientalsleeve.jpg


thanks for all thoughts!
 
insight!

Revisiting this post after a looooong break. Mainly because I was researching Shaheen on the Ebay Vintage clothing discussion board, and came across a Pake Muu being discussed, which had a print that looked like a more authentic parallel to this last 40s print (green and white, above).

It gave me a lead (Hindu goddesses) which has revealed that these are probably simplified figures inspired by the poses and attributes of the two goddesses Lakshmi (figure carrying a vase) and Saraswati (figure carrying the instrument). The intervening, big chinoiserie vases and ornamentation suggest that it's a slightly East-Asianised take on the figures, but the whole thing is a bit of a pastiche, so it's difficult to tell.

Anyway, there's the answer, after long last!

L
 
I like the hazy architectural print. Like seeing a monument in a mirage (which I guess is what it must feel like at 100 degrees!) and it looks super on you with those accessories.

Here's another R & K dress with the 'Personally Yours' label, which I bought more recently. Was really pleased with the print when I saw it up close - there's a tracery of landscape in the pattern which contours around the body:





Still working out how to talk about it, but storing it up here for reference purposes.
L
 
Bumping this thread as preparation for writing another blog post about a particular genre of print. I want to talk about that kind of 'destination' or 'travel fantasy' border print that Lizzie posted in reply no. 8, above.

I have a few egs to cite, but if anyone has anything in storage, or available for sale, that they wouldn't mind featured, do let me know.

Thanks all!
L
 
Wow, Ang, I didn't see you posted that dress before. It's stunning. I love the combination of bold colours and illustration.

I think it's part of a related trend, but not the border print 'destinations' i was concentrating on. Its more similar to the kind of prints for which the designer has looked at some actual, real Persian paintings, and then adapted them for a print. Except the originals for this print are Chinese /Far East themed. They're really beautiful. I haven't really tackled this kind of artwork yet, but I think the awareness of it as really desirable grew at the same time as the Persian stuff.

Terri, you know, I've been coveting that skirt for some time! I hesitated over including it, and ended up not doing so, although it's definitely related. It's a strikingly different style, so I wanted to be able to talk about that separately. Also, there's been an effort, definitely, to reproduce a Mughal-a-likeness of the Taj Mahal or similar, which is again a little bit different.

Has anyone pointed out that it's probably related (in the same line?) to this print in a skirt that both Lizzie and I own (posting the links to the Flickr Novelty Print shots here):
Medieval novelty print
Lizzie's skirt

So I think it may deserve a separate blog post!

I was actually logging in to post a new 40s print I just acquired and wanted to talk about. Here's a partial shot of the dress:



And here's my little blog about it, if anyone wants to read more about Arabian Nights tales:

An Ebony Horse among the clouds

thanks again everyone. always interested in any comments/parallels, btw.
 
What a great thread! I keep coming back to see what has been added.

Here is my small contribution. It is a scarf...I think anyway. It is a fairly heavy silk and the print is very light and pale making it hard to photograph. I am sure it is more far eastern. Also it is probably wrought with symbolism, but I have not taken the time to research it properly.


oriental_silk_scarf_040.jpg


oriental_silk_scarf_029.jpg


oriental_silk_scarf_033.jpg
 
Brenda that's beautiful - i love the contrast between the delicate line drawings and the splash of colour in the centre. I think you're right that it's far eastern - I don't have the knowledge to add anything to that though.

This is why I love these finds, though, they prompt me to research corners of knowledge into which I would never delve in the normal run of things. I'm basically using some of the 'Persian' prints as motivation to educate myself about an era of art that I don't normally deal with. Far East next!
 
revisiting a few examples of a Persian miniature print...

I thought (if that's okay) that I'd leave a link here for this new post:

http://vintagevoyager.blogspot.com/2010/04/windows-on-persian-landscape.html

Which deploys an old image of Jenn's (Hatfeathers) and a recent one of Lizzie's, as well as a couple of 'sold' comparanda. All of the same print. We discussed Jenn's example yonks ago, and I've only just realised it fits into this larger jigsaw... so there it appears! If anyone finds any more colourways, I'd be fascinated to see them.

L
 
another update

Thanks Terri!

I've been sick for the last few days (or a week, grr), so not as active as I'd like to be. In any case, I thought I'd paste in my last two updates, both inspired by Lizzie's tip to follow up a particular volume of American Fabrics.

One was my breakthrough in finding that a couple of different images related to Met Museum merchandise inspired a couple of runs of fabric, a generation apart:

http://vintagevoyager.blogspot.com/2010/04/islamic-art-inspiration-two-takes-on.html



and the second follows up, in a basic way, the material from the AF volume, showing an early assertion of influence between the (non-fashion) museum collection and contemporary manufacturers. I'm trying to gather more detail on this aspect, so any contributions are welcome!

thanks all, again, L
 
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