Afternoon jacket
1885–90
Medium
silk
Classification
Afternoon jacket
Culture
French
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of the Princess Viggo in accordance with the wishes of the Misses Hewitt, 1931
Accession Number
2009.300.76
Art Historical Context
This elegant afternoon jacket, created by the esteemed French fashion house Maison Pingat between 1885 and 1890, exemplifies the refined daywear of the Belle Époque. Crafted from luxurious silk the garment reflects the period’s emphasis on graceful silhouettes and sumptuous textures suited for women’s social calls and afternoon engagements. Maison Pingat, led by designer Emile Pingat, was celebrated for its sophisticated tailoring and attention to detail, positioning it among the leading Parisian couture establishments of the late nineteenth century. Silk’s use here underscores the era’s fasc...