Red Fringed Skirts, Xochitl, Emperor Tepancaltzin's Dancing Girls (set of three)

Costume

Identifier
C-140_1-3
Date:
1921
Description:
Three dark red silk crepe skirts decorated with colored appliqué, hanging tabs, and gold painted gumnuts. Worn by three female Denishawn dancers in the role of the Emperor Tepancaltzin's Dancing Girls (A total of six dancing girls performed in this role) in Xochitl.

Item Details:
Each skirt is made from dark red silk crepe. The hem is decorated with a geometric pattern of appliquéd yellow, green, and blue silk. From the hem hangs a series of green cotton tabs, the end of each is decorated with a gold painted gumnut (seed pod from a Eucalyptus tree). Yellow/orange colored feathers have been stitched to the skirt and at intervals to the hem. These appear to date from the premiere of the Xochitl in 1921. The names inside, however, correspond to the 1922/23 tour. These skirts would have been worn with headdresses C-132_1-5 and cuffs C-136_1-6_a-d.

C-140_1 Inscribed with Julia (Julia Bennett). No gumnuts on this skirt.
C-140_2 Inscribed with Pearl (Pearl Wheeler)
C-140_3 Inscribed with May (May Lynn)
Extent:
3
Medium:
Wood, Cotton, Metal