Wilhelmine Eckhardt Edwardian Lace Dress, c.1905

This dress was worn by Countess Anita von Galen’s mother and has been carefully preserved for over a century. This dress features a dressmaker’s label, Wilhelmine Eckhardt, from Frankfurt, Germany.

The bag in the images is in lot 69.

Black net lace two-piece dress trimmed with black velvet with a built up neckline, minimal leg-o-mutton sleeves, draped front bodice with fitted interior, floor length skirt with flared hem and minor train, and center back hook and eye and snap closures.
Label: Wilhelmine Eckhardt / Frankfurt A/M
Size Label: Unlabeled
Style/Serial No.: N/A

Approximate Measurements:
Shoulders: 13.5"
Chest: 40"
Waist: 27"
Hips: 48"
Length (high shoulder point to hem): 57"
Sleeve (center back neck to hem): 34"

Property from the Collection of Countess Anita von Galen

This lot is one of sixty-seven in this auction from Countess Anita von Galen, a German aristocrat and socialite known for her avant-garde sense of style and brilliant entertaining. Over the years, the Countess von Galen has used her visionary eye and a penchant for unique silhouettes to build an extraordinary collection of haute couture. She considered Hubert de Givenchy (Lots 1-18) and his partner, Philippe Venet, also a couturier (Lots 19-20), close friends, with Givenchy designing the baptismal gown (Lot 1) for her only son, Ferdinand Otto von Galen. Beyond her friendship with the couple, Countess von Galen was an ardent supporter of emerging, avant-garde designers including Pierre Cardin (Lots 25-48), Kansai Yamamoto (Lots 61-62), and Yohji Yamamoto (Lot 63).