Art Deco Original Watercolor Costume Sketch by Mabel E. Johnston (one of six)

Fine Art : Paintings

 

Submitted for your consideration is a dazzling watercolor of a costume sketch by Mabel E. Johnston from the 1920’s. Mabel Johnson studied art in Philadelphia and in New York and she was considered to be one of the top costume designers of the Broadway Stage during the roaring twenties. Her work was seen in the Ziegfield Follies, Earl Carroll’s Vanities of 1928, Animal Crackers, Cross My Heart, and Hold Everything. We were fortunate to acquire six of her original costume designs from the Park Avenue apartment of an editor of a major fashion magazine and her Broadway composer husband and this is one drawing from that suite.

Please note the simple elegance of this exceptional piece of art. The young woman is stunningly attractive. Her light blond hair cropped in the style favored by the era’s women known as “Flappers”. Long lashes frame her lovely eyes, as she fixes her gaze on an art deco version of a bowl of flowers. The pink blossoms and the subtle green leaves contrast with the bright yellow bowl that holds them. Her costume is a classic cocktail dress in a light yellow shade, likely made of silk, sporting a simple form that highlights her angular neck while morphing into a stylish design below the woman’s waist. The outfit offers a flourish in the form of a sash that mirrors the simplicity of the upper portion of the design as well as the more complex detailing of the lower portion of the garb. Her classic pose has her resting her elbow upon a counter and we are drawn to the contemporary ring that adorns her finger.

Please recognize that this is not a print. It is a one of a kind pen and ink drawing that the designer has then water colored as a final step before creating the costume. If you look closely you can see the outline of the strokes that formed the initial draft. The piece is signed in the bottom corner of the drawing with the flourish of an artist palette that was a characteristic emblem of this designer. Given its age, and the fact that this was a working drawing used to help seamstresses sew together the dress, this work of art is in remarkably good shape. There appears to be a slight fissure over the head of the model probably where a pin was placed so that it could be hung up for the seamstress to follow. It is encased in a custom rich burled walnut wood frame with black lacquered edges and double matted with a black external and light green internal matte. The frame shows some slight signs of wear, but this does not detract from the gestalt of the work and it actually enhances the vision of a beautiful vintage piece. This framed work measures 21.5" x 17.5". We have included a photo of an article in the September 1929 issue of Dance Magazine that extols the talents of Ms. Johnston.

All six of the works that we are offering decorated one large wall in the luxurious Manhattan apartment that was their home, but while they would make for a stunning wall grouping, each one can certainly stand on its own as a striking work of art.

Item ID: RL-5063