Not currently on display at the V&A

Bodice

circa 1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Bodice, part of a costume worn by the actress and writer Elizabeth Robins (1862-1952) in an unidentified production


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pink ribbed silk, covered with cream silk organza. Machine stitched with hand applied decoration.
Brief description
Bodice, part of a costume worn by the actress and writer Elizabeth Robins (1862-1952) in an unidentified production, ca.1900
Physical description
Bodice from a two part costume worn by Elizabeth Robins in an unidentified production. Waistlength bodice, with wide straight neck line, cut across the shoulder line and sleeves finishing just above the elbow. The ground of the bodice is formed from a vivid pink ribbed silk, this has been covered with a layer of translucent cream silk organza decorated with a meandering pattern of stylised leaves in cream tape. Lengths of fine cream silk chiffon have bene added at the neckline, and overlay the sleeves. The neckline, sleeves and waist are embellished with cut glass red jewels and bands of red silk velvet, with further decoration added using lines of gold metallic braid.
The interior of the bodice is stiffened with twelve channel of metal boning and lined with cream silk satin. Dress protectors have been added at the interior sleeve heads. The interior bodice fastens with a vertical line of thread bound holes, with twelves of these lacing holes running down the proper left, and a matching line of twelve running fown the proper right front opening. Four metal hooks, with matching thread loops, have also been added at this point. Further metal hooks have also been added to the exterior of the bodice to secure the exterior front panel, which overlaps and conceals the interior bodice.
Dimensions
  • From neckline to front hem length: 30cm (approximate)
  • Dress band width: 66cm
Marks and inscriptions
' Magda / 9 (?) Park Street / Mayfair. W. ' (Printed on dressband)
Object history
Costume worn by the actress Elizabeth Robins in an unidentified production
Association
Summary
Bodice, part of a costume worn by the actress and writer Elizabeth Robins (1862-1952) in an unidentified production
Other number
1970/A/92 - BTMA accession number
Collection
Accession number
S.1381-1984

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Record createdAugust 16, 2004
Record URL
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