Vanderbilt Estate Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney soiree Mexican matador bullfighter costume with sword and sombrero. One of several lots of soiree costumes, dresses and gowns worn by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and descendents. Unless otherwise indicated the garments are attributed to Gertrude and according to the family some of the costumes have appeared variously in photographs, societal reviews and paintings however at the time of cataloging any such identification either appears in the item listing or is unknown. Ornate heavy gold embroidered eagle,serpent and cactus back jacket en suite with pants and vest together with associated gold embroidered signed Elegante Nacional Mexico sombrero and a gold and silver painted wooden sword. The sombrero comes with a fitted and labeled storage box. Pant buttons signed Solide Elegant. Hat: 6in x 7.5in opening, 20in brim, 7in tall. Jacket: 37in bust, 17in shoulders, 22in back seam. Vest: 36in widest back, 19.5in overall. Pants: 25in waist, 29.5in inseam, 43.5in length (note pants appear to have been taken in by 2in). Sword: 36.5in.Provenance: Vanderbilt Whitney family landmark Old Westbury, Long Island, NY studio former residence of noted sculptor Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, founder of the Whitney Museum and great granddaughter of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, removed by our staff this spring during real estate staging. Decorated with murals by prominent Gilded Age to Art Deco artist colleagues and the site of legendary soirees attended by a Whos Who of actors, painters and philanthropists, the property has been listed for sale, emptied of contents and staged for its real estate sale listing. Earlier this year our firm was commissioned by the Vanderbilt Whitney family owners to offer 22 lots of GVW sculpture and 32 lots of paintings, important silver, jewelry, fine art photography, decorative arts and Chinese antiques descended in multiple branches and generations of the Vanderbilt Whitney family. We are now excited to present a second sale including the Vanderbilt Whiney Archive and Important Studio Garden Sculpture and Decorations. This lot and all lots but the 18 large garden sculpture and decorations have been transported to our Florida facilities for FL pick up or shipping with the 18 large garden sculpture and decorative arts now in Greater NY NJ CT TriState area storage for pick up 1 hour from Manhattan. Previews are 1 person at a time for specific advance requested lots by appt at our St. Petersburg, FL warehouse from Saturday July 15th through Friday July 21st as items are not staged for exhibition and are securely housed outside of preview times at multiple locations. ALSO NOTE: There is no in person preview available for the 18 large garden sculpture and decorations stored in the Greater NY NJ CT TriState area. Their preview is photo only. Note the sale is online only with no in person auction audience or warehouse activity the day of sale or the Sunday after the sale.

Very sound garment embroidered with interlacing thread with no damage observed and scattered mildew. Sombrero the same with additional scattered wear and more mildew. Sword quite good.