May 1, 2016

Object: Day Dress

Designer: Augustine Martin

Medium: Wool, Silk, Metal

Date: Circa 1880

Country: France

Credit: Gift of Mrs. Alfred Coxe Prime

This dress bears the label of Augustine Martin and was purchased at the Philadelphia dry good emporium Darlington, Runk & Co. in 1880. The success of the House of Worth paved the way for many other French couture houses such as Emile Pingat, Jacques Doucet, and Ernest Raudnitz. Even a relatively obscure maker such as Augustine Martin benefited from the success of Worth - a Parisian import was prized even if from a less established name.