Mata Hari's Bodice

A femme fatale, using sex appeal to entice, manipulate...and extract secrets. It's the stuff of Hollywood movies. And it's the legend and legacy of Mata Hari.

This ornate metallic bodice may have belonged to Mata Hari. She wore similarly provocative costumes on stage - modeled on those she'd seen in the Dutch East Indies - with a confident sexuality that defied traditional feminine modesty. 

View additional original artifacts from Mata Hari's life including this letter and sketch. Learn more about other famous female spies or view the bodice on display in the Museum’s Spies and Spymasters exhibit.