Historical Society of Delaware - The Other Side of Empire Exhibition

NOTE: This exhibit is CLOSED. For reference only.

Folk Costumes from Eastern Europe
1900 - 1914

July 25, 1998 - January 2, 1999

The Delaware History Center
5th & Market Streets
Wilmington, Delaware

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The Other Side of Empire will display twelve outfits collected by Henry Francis du Pont during his travel through Europe in the early 20th Century. About thirty additional costumes will be featured from the collection of Linda Gross of New York City, who has amassed dozens of antique eastern European costumes and recently contributed to a major costume exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The elaborate folk costumes and jewelry on display in The Other Side of Empire come from many different locations of the Romanov and Hapsburg imperial dynasties in Russia, Austro-Hungary, and the Balkan Peninsula. At the turn of the century, millions of impoverished peasants and ethnic minorities sought to maintain their own customs and style of dress amid the lavish lifestyles and conspicuous consumption of western European styles of the imperial courts. Consequently, each ethnic costume piece reflects regional weaving patterns, colors, styles and adornments.

H.F. du Pont witnessed the contrast in lifestyles between peasants and nobles too, including a trip to Austria in 1911 when he was presented to the heir of the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand. At about the same time, H.F. became interested in textiles and began to buy beautifully woven and colorful folk costumes, which eventually came to the Historical Society of Delaware.

Costume pieces modeled by Elena Manakhova & Andrei Govorov
of the Russian Ballet Theater

Hours

July 25, 1998 - January 2, 1999

Tuesday - Friday:	noon - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday:	10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Admission

Admission is $2.00

Saturday Admission includes admission to Grandma's Attic for children 12 and younger.