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Not currently on display at the V&A

Theatre Costume

1968
Artist/Maker

Surcoat for the Queen in the Act II 'Awakening scene'. Full-length sleeveless surcoat with small train. The stomacher, shoulders and edging of the deep cut-away armholes are covered with artificial sheepskin; down the centre front is a vertical band of velvet decorated with plastic stylized flowers as used in interior decoration, interspersed with plastic studs and large blue jewels. A coarse blue net base, double in front, supports large patches of ivory panne velvet, overlaid on the front skirt with remains of heraldic devices in applique silver plastic cloth, plastic meshed veiling, bronzed figured brocade, gold lurex brocade, and loose weave potato sacking. The velvet has been dyed, sprayed and painted in tones of pale blue, turquoise and ochre.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Surcoat for the Queen in the Act II 'Awakening scene' of 'The Sleeping Beauty', The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden, 1968
Physical description
Surcoat for the Queen in the Act II 'Awakening scene'. Full-length sleeveless surcoat with small train. The stomacher, shoulders and edging of the deep cut-away armholes are covered with artificial sheepskin; down the centre front is a vertical band of velvet decorated with plastic stylized flowers as used in interior decoration, interspersed with plastic studs and large blue jewels. A coarse blue net base, double in front, supports large patches of ivory panne velvet, overlaid on the front skirt with remains of heraldic devices in applique silver plastic cloth, plastic meshed veiling, bronzed figured brocade, gold lurex brocade, and loose weave potato sacking. The velvet has been dyed, sprayed and painted in tones of pale blue, turquoise and ochre.
Dimensions
  • Front of overdress from neck to hem length: 138.5cm
  • Back of costume from hect to end of train length: 193cm
  • Length of fur trim on bodice length: 46cm
  • Weight weight: 1.9kg
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
' Queen / Sleeping Beauty ' (Bonn & MacKenzie Trade Label:)
Credit line
Given by the Royal Academy of Dance
Object history
Surcoat for the Queen in the Act II 'Awakening scene' of Marius Petipa's ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty', The Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 17th December 1968. The music for the ballet was composed by Tchaikovsky. This new production, staged by Peter Wright, was a deliberate attempt to give the ballet a different 'look' from the famous former production designed by Oliver Messel. New and additional choreography was provided by Frederick Ashton, and the 'Medieval' style sets and costumes were designed by Henry Bardon, Lila de Nobili and Rostislav Doboujinsky. The production was not considered a success, and was replaced by a new production by Kenneth MacMillan in 1973.
Production
Reason For Production: Commission
Subject depicted
Associations
Literary referenceThe Sleeping Beauty
Bibliographic reference
Strong, Roy, Ivor Guest, Richard Buckle, Sarah C. Woodcock and Philip Dyer, Spotlight: four centuries of ballet costume, a tribute to the Royal Ballet, London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1981.
Collection
Accession number
S.1531-1982

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Record createdMarch 18, 2005
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