Not currently on display at the V&A

Theatre Costume

mid 18th century
Place of origin

Stage coat worn in private court theatre performances at the Meleto Castle, Tuscany, ca. 1750. Pink brown brocade frock coat with hanging cape oversleeves, edge to edge to waist where it is cut away and front panels are turned back. Front 'panels' applique of black silk embroidered with elaborate silver strip embroidery arabesques and silver braid. At the cut away section, the applique panel at left extend into larger area of applique cloth of silver appliqued with black silk edged with narrow silver thread braid. Three-quarter undersleeve of pink silk and silver tinsel (much gone) edged with silver braid.


Object details

Object type
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Stage coat of pink brown brocade worn in private court theatre performances at the Meleto Castle, Tuscany, ca. 1750
Physical description
Stage coat worn in private court theatre performances at the Meleto Castle, Tuscany, ca. 1750. Pink brown brocade frock coat with hanging cape oversleeves, edge to edge to waist where it is cut away and front panels are turned back. Front 'panels' applique of black silk embroidered with elaborate silver strip embroidery arabesques and silver braid. At the cut away section, the applique panel at left extend into larger area of applique cloth of silver appliqued with black silk edged with narrow silver thread braid. Three-quarter undersleeve of pink silk and silver tinsel (much gone) edged with silver braid.
Object history
This costume comes from Meleto Castle in Tuscany, where there is a private theatre, which was opened in 1741. It is a very early example of a costume made specially for the stage and, although probably used in productions of plays, it was also undoubtedly used for masques and other entertainments which included dancing.

Sarah Woodcock & Philip Dyer, 1981.
Bibliographic reference
Inaugural Conference for the Ricasoli Collection Patrons, Politics, Music and Art in Italy, 1738-1859. University of Louisville, March 14-18, 1989
Collection
Accession number
S.803-1982

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Record createdJune 24, 2004
Record URL
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