Considered the father of French couture, Englishman Charles Frederick Worth opened his fashion house in Paris in 1858. A favorite of Empress Eugenie, he dressed the French aristocracy and was patronized by European royalty and international society.

This impressive court dress is composed of a silver moiré skirt and a luminous emerald green silk velvet boned bodice with a matching 12-foot train. It is trimmed with a band of luxurious silk fringe and velvet ruffles.

Princess Maria Maximilianova Romanovskya of Leuchtenberg [1841-1914];{1} by descent through her family; sale (Sotheby’s Olympia, London) in 2002;{2} purchased by Titi Halle of (Cora Ginsberg L.L.C., New York);{3} purchased by the Indianapolis Museum of Art in 2006 (2006.3a-c).

{1} She was a great-granddaughter of Empress Joséphine and married to Prince Wilhelm of Baden. In the 1880s she was a regular customer of Charles Frederick Worth.
{2} See Sotheby’s Olympia, London, “Passion for Fashion,” 28 November 2002, lot no. 268 (ill.). Lot no. 273 of this sale was a swatch book record of dress purchases for the princess.
{3} See the Cora Ginsberg L.L.C. publication, “A Catalogue of exquisite and rare works of art including 15th to 20th century costume, textiles and needlework,” winter 2005, pp. 26-7 (ill.).