Dress

This printed dress is composed from silk produced by the famed early twentieth century American manufacturer H.R. Mallinson and Company. The design, "Betsey Ross - Liberty Bell," was among several introduced during the spring of 1929, as part of the company's "Early American" series. Mallinson was a leader in promoting American textiles during a period in which European silks, particularly French products, still maintained a degree of hegemony. This print features a variety of patriotic motifs including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and thirteen stars and seals representing the original American colonies. Despite the traditionalism of the subject matter, the design has been rendered with a modern stylized hand, replete with bold geometric forms in a dynamic layout that reflects the aesthetics of the period and the vogue for Art Deco.