THE FASHION WORLD OF THE KALEF FAMILY

Exhibition curator: Draginja Maskareli, museum advisor

Organizer: Museum of Applied Art, Belgrade

Belgrade’s Museum of Applied Art Collection of textile and costume was enhanced in 2019 by a valuable gift consisting of 33 color fashion illustrations from the famous German magazine Die Modenwelt (World of Fashion). These illustrations were created in the period from 1892 to 1898 and were once owned by Matilda Kalef (1879–1942), a member of the famous Belgrade-based Sephardic trading family Kalef and the owner of a dressmaker’s shop in Višnjićeva Street.

In the period from 11 to 30 June 2022, these illustrations will be presented to the public with the The Fashion World of the Kalef Family exhibition at the Museum of Applied Art in Belgrade. The exhibited illustrations will be followed by the documentary and narrative segment of the exhibition, where visitors will be able to see the reproductions of Kalef family member photographs from the end of the 19^th and the beginning of the 20^th century preserved in the National Library of Serbia and in family ownership. These photographs are a valuable testimony to the visual culture of the Jewish community, which has significantly contributed to the development of fashion and textile crafts, trade and industry in Belgrade and Serbia.

In parallel with the preserved fashion illustrations from Die Modenwelt magazine and the Kalef family photographs, The Fashion World of the Kalef Family has mapped clothing patterns used by family members, as well as other members of the Jewish community and the bourgeoisie in their self-presentation, in line with current cultural models.

SELECTION OF WORKS

Samuilo – Sima Alkalaj, Matilda Kalef in a bindalli dress, early 20^th century; National Library of Serbia, call no. 6624-1

Studio Kenig, Wedding Photography of Matilda and Nisim Kalef, Belgrade, around 1900; National Library of Serbia, call no. 6624-2

Nisim Kalef with sons, Belgrade, early 20^th century; private owner

Samuilo – Sima Alkalaj, Rahela Kalef, Belgrade, early 20^th century; private owner

Lenka Koen in a national costume, Belgrade, ca. 1900; National Library of Serbia, call no. 6624-6

The merchant Jakov Kalef in front of his shop in Kolarčeva Street, Belgrade, around 1925; National Library of Serbia, call no. 6624-20

Cover page of Die Modenwelt magazine, 13 November 1892; MAA, documentary material

Fashion plate from Die Modenwelt magazine, 15 May 1897, MAA acession no. 25414/23

Fashion plate from Die Modenwelt magazine, 1 October 1897, MAA acession no. 25414/25

Fashion plate from Die Modenwelt magazine, 14 February 1892, MAA acession no. 25414/1

PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE OPENING CEREMONY

H.E. Yahel Vilan, Israeli Ambassador in Serbia, opened the exhibition.

Author of the photographs: Jovana Jarebica