Bertha
Unknown Artist
19th century
Medium
[no medium available]
Classification
Bertha
Culture
French
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Philip S. Van Rensselaer, in memory of Mrs. Mary Tallmadge Van Rensselaer, 1909
Accession Number
09.128.25
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Costume Institute, where we showcase the elegance of 19th-century French fashion treasures like *Bertha*. This exquisite piece, created by an unknown artist, the refined craftsmanship of its era. Titled "Bertha," it likely refers to the iconic bertha collar—a wide, ornate trimming that framed the neckline of, adding dramatic flair and modesty. Popular in French wardrobes from the 183s onward, such accessories blended practicality with opulence, often adorned with lace, ruffles, or. In the Romantic period of 19th-century France, fashion emphasized feminine silhouettes and intric...