Kimono sleeve robe belonging to Etta Moten Barnett: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This is a kimono sleeved robe (a) and matching belt (b) worn by Etta Moten Barnett. It is a long robe of silky material with wide flaring kimono-style sleeves and minimal collar. It has a white background with a pattern of wide, short grey stripes arranged in clusters that alternate the direction in which they are oriented. On top of the grey stripes are large tropical flowers in yellow, fuchsia, and blue. There are two cloth tags sewn onto the inside of the neckline of the robe. The larger tag is white with black text that reads “Christian Dior / Lounge Wear / Paris – New York.” The smaller tag is white with black text that reads “RN 14242 / 100% Polyester / Made in Philippines.” The lining of the robe is bright fuchsia. The robe comes with its own matching belt (b) that is threaded through slots in the side of the robe.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1980-2004
• Designed by: Dior, French, founded 1946
• Owned by: Etta Moten Barnett, American, 1901 - 2004
• Type: bathrobes
• Medium: cloth
• Dimensions: H x W: 53 5/8 × 27 9/16 in. (136.2 × 70 cm)
• Place made: Philippines, Oceania
• Place used: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Actors
• Topic: Broadway Theatre
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Fashion
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Topic: Women
• Object number: A2022.13.1.21ab
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown – Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.