Gilt metal tiara, worn by Madame Vestris (1797-1856)
Tiara
ca.1840 (made)
ca.1840 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
The actress, singer and theatre manager Lucia Elizabeth Vestris (1797-1865) who owned this tiara was born in London Elizabeth Bartolozzi. Aged sixteen she married the dancer Armand Vestris and although they separated, she kept his name professionally. She made a name for herself in Paris and London, was famous for her 'breeches' roles, portraying men and revealing her shapely and much praised-legs'
Although she could have specialised in opera, Madam Vestris made her name in burlesque and comedy roles, making her earliest success in 1820 in Giovanni In London, a burlesque or parody of Mozart's Don Giovanni. She made a huge hit with the song The Broom Girl! that she first sang at the Haymarket Theatre in 1826. She took over the Olympic Theatre in 1830, and after her marriage in 1838 to the actor Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), also managed Covent Garden and the Lyceum Theatres for some time.
Although she could have specialised in opera, Madam Vestris made her name in burlesque and comedy roles, making her earliest success in 1820 in Giovanni In London, a burlesque or parody of Mozart's Don Giovanni. She made a huge hit with the song The Broom Girl! that she first sang at the Haymarket Theatre in 1826. She took over the Olympic Theatre in 1830, and after her marriage in 1838 to the actor Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), also managed Covent Garden and the Lyceum Theatres for some time.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Gilt metal tiara, worn by Madame Vestris (1797-1856) (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Metal and paste |
| Brief description | Gilt metal tiara owned by Madame Vestris (1797-1856) |
| Physical description | Gold metal tiara set with paste stones, alterating white, pink and green with a larger 'ruby' at centre. |
| Object history | This tiara was part of a collection of Madame Vestris's jewellery, lent to the Museum by Mr Vere Laurie as a long loan in 1974. Mr Vere Laurie subsequently bequeathed the collection to the Museum (see also S.840 & S.841-1996). Valued by Cathy Haill and Geoffrey Munn prior to Wartski exhibition (loan file: RF 1996/1403). Associated production: Actor: Madame Vestris. |
| Summary | The actress, singer and theatre manager Lucia Elizabeth Vestris (1797-1865) who owned this tiara was born in London Elizabeth Bartolozzi. Aged sixteen she married the dancer Armand Vestris and although they separated, she kept his name professionally. She made a name for herself in Paris and London, was famous for her 'breeches' roles, portraying men and revealing her shapely and much praised-legs' Although she could have specialised in opera, Madam Vestris made her name in burlesque and comedy roles, making her earliest success in 1820 in Giovanni In London, a burlesque or parody of Mozart's Don Giovanni. She made a huge hit with the song The Broom Girl! that she first sang at the Haymarket Theatre in 1826. She took over the Olympic Theatre in 1830, and after her marriage in 1838 to the actor Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), also managed Covent Garden and the Lyceum Theatres for some time. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.839-1996 |
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| Record created | October 7, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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