Court presentation gown with detachable train, 1892;
Silk satin, silk velvet, rhinestone, gold cloth, glass beads, net;
Charles Frederick Worth, Paris

If you haven’t already seen the exhibition Bertha Honoré Palmer, I urge you to make a visit to the Chicago History Museum before it closes on January 4, 2010. But even if you’ve already made a visit, you might want to come back since we just installed an opulent court presentation gown in the gallery. This amazing piece was made for Mrs. Palmer by the House of Worth in 1892.

During an incredibly busy schedule of planning for Chicago’s World’s Columbian Exposition, Mrs. Palmer stepped away from her duties as president of the Board of Lady Managers and sailed to Europe, where she was presented to Queen Victoria. Court rules dictated every detail of the construction of this gown, including color, style, embellishment, and even accessories.

The detachable train (another court rule) measures nine feet from shoulder to hem. We weren’t able to put it on display because it is too heavy to be supported by the 117-year-old gown. In addition to its weight, the sheer size of the train was too large to fit in the gallery; if we were to show the gown and train together we would have to remove three gowns that are on display. This means that the only place where you have the opportunity to view this train is right here.

> Learn more about Bertha Honoré Palmer
> Shop Bertha Honoré Palmer

Tags: Bertha Honoré Palmer, court presentation gown, Couture, House of Worth, Queen Victoria, Timothy Long, World’s Columbian Exposition

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