Collection Online

Browse by artist name

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
Ball gown

BALENCIAGA, Paris (couture house), Cristóbal BALENCIAGA (designer)
Ball gown
 1955

Medium
silk, metal (fastenings)

Measurements
148.0 cm (centre back) 35.5 cm (waist, flat)

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty and the Campbell-Pretty Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2017
© Balenciaga

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Paris, France

Inscription
label, right seamline, woven in black on white acetate: BALENCIAGA / 10, GEORGE AV. PARIS
label, right seamline, printed in ink on white cotton: 60157

Accession Number
2017.239

Department
International Fashion and Textiles

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Professor AGL Shaw AO Bequest

Physical description
Full length gold strapless ball gown in velvet devoré with cross-front detail at the bust line and cinched at waist. The front of the dress extends in a continuous panel, while at the back, the waistline is curved with gathering to create fullness at the back. The gown extends to a longer train at the back.

Explore the collection

Anguish August Friedrich Albrecht SCHENCK The Mayor's Cup William KERR Self-portrait Joseph WRIGHT of Derby Ulysses and the Sirens John William WATERHOUSE Clock garniture MINTON, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire (manufacturer); Marc-Louis-Emmanuel SOLON (decorator) Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence Jusepe de RIBERA Pietà CHELSEA PORCELAIN FACTORY, London (manufacturer); Joseph WILLEMS (modeller) The skittle players David TENIERS II SHOE Winter, from The four seasons FULDA PORCELAIN FACTORY, Fulda (manufacturer) Ecstasy André MASSON Lady Rous née Charlotte Maria Whittaker, second wife of the 6th Baronet, later, Earl of Stradbroke William BEECHEY DAMASK Cabinet W. H. ROCKE & CO., Melbourne (manufacturer); John MATHER (decorator) Little Red Riding Hood Gustave DORÉ Shoes COMME DES GARÇONS, Tokyo (fashion house); Rei KAWAKUBO (designer) Mother and child Cornelis de VOS The Crossing of the Red Sea Nicolas POUSSIN Jumpsuit ALAÏA, Paris (fashion house); Azzedine ALAÏA (designer) Two old men disputing REMBRANDT Harmensz. van Rijn BROCADE Look 15, dress BALENCIAGA, Paris (fashion house); Nicolas GHESQUIÈRE (designer) Clouds John CONSTABLE LENGTH OF FABRIC Textile William MORRIS Glove purse MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA, Paris (fashion house); Martin MARGIELA (designer) Skirt ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, London (fashion house); Alexander McQUEEN (designer) Banner ZANDRA RHODES, London (fashion house); Zandra RHODES (designer) Hat COMME DES GARÇONS, Tokyo (fashion house); Rei KAWAKUBO (designer) The first cloud William Quiller ORCHARDSON