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Wedding Ensemble | c. 1901

The appliqués of this wedding dress exemplify the whip-like curves and scrolls characteristic of the Art Nouveau period. Made in Rome for Mrs. Frederick Dand Sherman in 1901, the design of the dress shows the impact of the Art Nouveau movement throughout Europe by that year. While the white-on-white color palette would have been a conventional choice for a bride just after the turn of the century, the asymmetical trimming would have been a deliberately bold and fashion-conscious choice. The shape of the skirt and cut of the sleeves particularly suits the overall decorative scheme of the dress.