"Marine & Camouflage" dress silk, Mallinson's La Victoire series I
date: label: date made
content: 1918
name: label: maker
content: H. R. Mallinson & Co. Inc.
notes: label: Description
content: "Marines & Camouflage" is the title of this design, from the first La Victoire series designed by H.R. Mallinson & Co. just before the Armistice that ended the fighting in World War I was signed, in November 1918. The firm’s marketing brochure stated,"That there is much real art in camouflaging is proven in this design in which you see the Marines and then you don't." Camouflage became a military necessity during World War I. Long range artillery and aerial observation and bombardment wreaked havoc within the static trenches, as did submarine warfare at sea. The armed forces required new ways to hide from enemy observation and attack, and recruited artists and scientists to assist with camouflage efforts. The importance of their efforts is recognized by this design, printed in five colors on a tan ground, on “Pussy Willow” silk, one of Mallinson's most enduring fabrications.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: World War I
label: related event
content: World War I
label: related event
content: Armistice of November 11, 1918
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Textiles
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content: American Silks
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content: American Silk Industry
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content: Migel-Mallinson Silks
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content: Mallinson’s La Victoire
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content: Textiles
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of H.R. Mallinson & Co., Inc.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TE.T04080
label: accession number
content: 63204
label: catalog number
content: T04080.000
label: catalog number
content: T4080
objectType: label: Object Name
content: fabric length
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: silk (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: medium blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: dark blue (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: pink (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: black (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: yellow (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: tan ground (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: plain weave, cylinder printed (overall production method/technique)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 36 in x 40 in; 91.44 cm x 101.6 cm