Tweedelige japon bestaande uit lijfje en rok
Carla de Jonge must have been over the moon with the Van de Poll's contribution to the <EM>Costumes of our Ancestors</EM> fashion exhibition in 1936. Travel cloaks, accessories, jewellery and no less than eleven dresses were produced from cupboards and chests at the family residence Huis Beek en Royen in Zeist and delivered to the Ridderzaal ('Knights' Hall') in The Hague. The dresses received pride of place in the chronological series which the curator compiled from the many exceptional loans. This flounced dress of pink silk taffeta with grey stripes was an elegant example of the crinoline fashion around 1855 and was probably worn by the mother of the family, Henriette Wilhelmine Van de Poll. The high quality silk and the fashionable, exquisite decoration indicate a couturiere of stature. Perhaps we should search for this excellent needlewoman abroad? After its donation to the Centraal Museum in the 1950's, this crinoline had a busy exhibition life both in and outside the Utrecht collection, with the <EM>Ruisende Rokken (Rustling Skirts)</EM> exhibition at the Centraal Museum in 1988 being the undoubtable peak. This exhibition had the highlight of a real fashion show, with (soon to become) actress Katja Schuurman gracing the catwalk in the dress.
