Jane Peiser's Vintage Handmade Freeform Crochet Art Dress

Wool yarn, early 1970s, handmade dress in assorted crochet techniques using an array of varied wool yarn textures and colors, the sleeveless bodice has loops that allow for lacing in the back, the fitted waist with elastic sewn to inside and back opening that secures with carved stone buttons and decorated on the front with a folky flap decoration with curlicue fringe, the bell shaped skirt with flouncing lower edge.

bust 34 in., waist 28 in. (measurements when laying flat; dress will stretch), skirt about 34-36 in. from waist to bottom edge.

Being sold to benefit Penland School of Craft, Penland, North Carolina

Penland’s scholarship program exists to make our workshops accessible to those who are not able to participate without financial assistance and to create educational opportunities for people who have been underrepresented at Penland and in the craft world. Proceeds from this auction will help fund existing scholarships, with some proceeds designated towards specific scholarships.

This dress was owned by renowned ceramic artist Jane Peiser, who was a resident artist at Penland from 1970-1973. One day a van full of travelers came to visit her studio. One woman was really taken with Jane's pottery, but didn't have any money to purchase a piece. They decided that they would trade, so the woman took a piece of pottery and said she would crochet a dress for Jane as they crossed the country in the van. A while later, Jane received the dress in the mail. It was inspired by the patterns in Jane's pots.

Crochet is one of the few textile crafts that has never been successfully mechanized, and all true crochet is made by hand. During the 1960s and 70s, crochet became a means of expression for young women who had been taught crochet by mothers and grandmothers for the purpose of homemaking in the form of tablecloths and doilies, but who now used these same stitches to create free-form wearable works of art that correlated perfectly with their youth culture of expression and imagination.

Some fraying to yarns; elastic inside waistband is no longer stretchy; otherwise excellent condition with bright colors and no signs of wear.