Henri Bendel, New York Velvet Hat 1908 Philadelphia Museum of Art |
Collections at the Philadelphia Museum of Art include this hat from 1908 made for a woman who wished to wear several life-sized velvet peonies on her head. In the same collection (though perhaps never displayed in the same room, alas) is an albumen silver print in tones of sepia depicting real peonies that grew and blossomed somewhere in France for a few days in 1864.
Charles Aubry Still life with peonies albumen silver print, 1864 Philadelphia Museum of Art |
Martin Schongauer Peonies c. 1472-73 Getty |
Fan with Peonies c. 1650-75 Rijksmuseum |