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Theatre Costume
circa 1912 (designed)
| Artist/Maker |
Designed by Leon Bakst in circa 1912 this costume was worn by a Negro Attendant in a production of the Le Dieu Bleu. A ballet first performed by the Ballets Russes in 1912 on the 13th of May at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris. They first performed this ballet in London on the 27th of February 1913 at the Royal Opera House.
The costume consists of a lavishly decorated bodice appliquéd with diamonds of yellow, blue, green, and white, silk and bands of metallic gold braid. Small peach and white circles of a material (possibly plasitc or resin) have been stitched across the entire surface of this bodice and, when new, both this and the metallic braid would have sparked under the stage lights. The bodice was worn with a pair of loose black silk trousers (gathered at the waist and ankle), the surface of which has been painted/dyed with a series of pale orange circles.
The costume consists of a lavishly decorated bodice appliquéd with diamonds of yellow, blue, green, and white, silk and bands of metallic gold braid. Small peach and white circles of a material (possibly plasitc or resin) have been stitched across the entire surface of this bodice and, when new, both this and the metallic braid would have sparked under the stage lights. The bodice was worn with a pair of loose black silk trousers (gathered at the waist and ankle), the surface of which has been painted/dyed with a series of pale orange circles.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 3 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
|
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Costume for a Negro in Fokine's ballet Le Dieu bleu designed by Leon Bakst, Diaghilev Ballet, 1912. |
| Physical description | Costume for a Negro in Fokine's ballet Le Dieu bleu designed by Leon Bakst, Diaghilev Ballet, 1912. It consists of a white bodice over black silk trousers. The bodice has been appliqued with diamongs of blue, green and yellow silk outlined in metallic gold braid, and circles of peach and white [plastic/resin?] have been stitched across its surface. The black silk trousers have been painted with pale orange circles. |
| Object history | NB The term "negro" was used historically to describe people of black African heritage but, since the 1960s, has fallen from usage and, increasingly, is considered offensive. The term is repeated here in its original historical context. |
| Literary reference | Le Dieu Bleu |
| Summary | Designed by Leon Bakst in circa 1912 this costume was worn by a Negro Attendant in a production of the Le Dieu Bleu. A ballet first performed by the Ballets Russes in 1912 on the 13th of May at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris. They first performed this ballet in London on the 27th of February 1913 at the Royal Opera House. The costume consists of a lavishly decorated bodice appliquéd with diamonds of yellow, blue, green, and white, silk and bands of metallic gold braid. Small peach and white circles of a material (possibly plasitc or resin) have been stitched across the entire surface of this bodice and, when new, both this and the metallic braid would have sparked under the stage lights. The bodice was worn with a pair of loose black silk trousers (gathered at the waist and ankle), the surface of which has been painted/dyed with a series of pale orange circles. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.623&B-1980 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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