The Mikado
Costume Design
1885 (made)
1885 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Costume design by Wilhelm using pencil, watercolour and gouache on paper. Inspired by traditional Japanese kimono and signed and dated by the artist. The costume consists of an ornate silver-gray long gown with bamboo motifs, with a navy mid length jacket trimmed with red and decorated with herons. The character is depicted holding a closed Japanese folding fan in his right hand. Mounted with 3 other costume designs for the same production: S.84-1991; S.92-1991 and S.99-1991. This design (S.100-1991) is positioned at the top right of the mount.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | The Mikado (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Paper, pencil and paint |
Brief description | Costume design by Wilhelm for a Japanese Gentleman in Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera The Mikado at the Savoy Theatre, 1885. |
Physical description | Costume design by Wilhelm using pencil, watercolour and gouache on paper. Inspired by traditional Japanese kimono and signed and dated by the artist. The costume consists of an ornate silver-gray long gown with bamboo motifs, with a navy mid length jacket trimmed with red and decorated with herons. The character is depicted holding a closed Japanese folding fan in his right hand. Mounted with 3 other costume designs for the same production: S.84-1991; S.92-1991 and S.99-1991. This design (S.100-1991) is positioned at the top right of the mount. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions | Wilhelm / 85. |
Gallery label | The Japanese craze spread to the theatre and its most famous production was Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado, the success of which did much to popularise the image of Japan. The costumes were authentically researched and many were made from Japanese fabric supplied by Liberty's. Although Gilbert used a Japanese setting, he deliberately used this to poke fun at British life and institutions.(2006) |
Credit line | Given by Dame Bridget D'Oyly Carte. |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.100-1991 |
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Record created | June 1, 2012 |
Record URL |
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