Property basket used by Widow Twankey in Aladdin
Basket
ca.1980 (made)
ca.1980 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Property basket for Widow Twankey, made up of a wicker basket containing various miscellaneous items, including mock "sausages", a "chop", "chicken leg" and "union flags", used by Alan Vicars in Aladdin, ca.1980.
Aladdin's mother, Widow Twankey, is one of the best known Dame parts. The character has evolved as actors and authors add new elements to her story and the most successful of these are retained and developed in subsequent productions. In early versions of Aladdin the hero's mother appeared under a variety of vaguely Chinese names and was described as a tailor's widow. By 1844 she had become a washerwoman. She was first called Twankey (or Twankay) in a version of 1861, named after a popular green tea. By the end of the 19th century the Widow was working in, and was sometimes in charge of, the palace laundry, a job now associated with the role and one that provides opportunities for slapstick washing routines and ridiculous costumes.
Aladdin's mother, Widow Twankey, is one of the best known Dame parts. The character has evolved as actors and authors add new elements to her story and the most successful of these are retained and developed in subsequent productions. In early versions of Aladdin the hero's mother appeared under a variety of vaguely Chinese names and was described as a tailor's widow. By 1844 she had become a washerwoman. She was first called Twankey (or Twankay) in a version of 1861, named after a popular green tea. By the end of the 19th century the Widow was working in, and was sometimes in charge of, the palace laundry, a job now associated with the role and one that provides opportunities for slapstick washing routines and ridiculous costumes.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Property basket used by Widow Twankey in Aladdin (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Wicker work basket, decorated with synthetic fabric, silk ribbons and painted foam shapes |
| Brief description | Property basket for Widow Twankey, made up of a wicker basket containing various miscellaneous items, including mock "sausages", a "chop", "chicken leg" and "union flags", used by Alan Vicars, ca. 1980 |
| Physical description | Wicker basket with handle. The basket is decorated with two red, white and blue coloured synthetic flags printed with union jack flags at the right and left hand side and strings of silk ribbons have been wound round the handle. The basket is is filled with foam based stuffing, masked by covered with a cotton cloth which has been stitched in place. Items of food and drink appear to be escaping from the inside of the basket, with a black foam beer bottle (stamped Makeson) attached to one side, a string of sausages spilling over the edge and a piece of steak and a chicken leg also attached to the exterior. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Alan Vicars (F.A. Meacham) |
| Literary reference | Aladdin |
| Summary | Property basket for Widow Twankey, made up of a wicker basket containing various miscellaneous items, including mock "sausages", a "chop", "chicken leg" and "union flags", used by Alan Vicars in Aladdin, ca.1980. Aladdin's mother, Widow Twankey, is one of the best known Dame parts. The character has evolved as actors and authors add new elements to her story and the most successful of these are retained and developed in subsequent productions. In early versions of Aladdin the hero's mother appeared under a variety of vaguely Chinese names and was described as a tailor's widow. By 1844 she had become a washerwoman. She was first called Twankey (or Twankay) in a version of 1861, named after a popular green tea. By the end of the 19th century the Widow was working in, and was sometimes in charge of, the palace laundry, a job now associated with the role and one that provides opportunities for slapstick washing routines and ridiculous costumes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.2642-1986 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
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