We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: S.148-2013
Find out about our images

Not currently on display at the V&A

Film Costume

1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Oval, metal bracelet or cuff, dark brown with gold highlights. Worn by Paul Scofield (1922-2008) in Peter Brook's 1971 film of Shakespeare's King Lear.

In 2004 a poll of 200 members of the Royal Shakespeare Company voted Paul Scofield’s King Lear as the greatest performance in a play by Shakespeare. Scofield played Lear for the RSC in 1962, directed by Peter Brook. ‘This production brings me closer to Lear than I have ever been; from now on, I not only know him but can place him in his harsh and unforgiving world’, wrote Kenneth Tynan (Observer, 11 November 1962). Scofield’s towering performance was re-created for the screen when Brook directed a film of the play, released in 1971. This was not intended as a film of the stage version, though it used several of the RSC production’s leading players. It was shot on location in the snow-covered landscapes of North Jutland, Denmark, during the winter of 1968-1969. Filmed in black and white, play and setting matched each other in bleakness.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Paint, Metal
Brief description
Oval, metal bracelet or cuff, dark brown with gold highlights. Worn by Paul Scofield (1922-2008) in Peter Brook's 1971 film of King Lear by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Physical description
Oval, metal bracelet or cuff. Formed from two pieces with a hinge at the centre back and metal clasp at the front centre. The central section of the bracelet has a dark brown, painted ground and embellished with a series of raised gold oval motifs, the surface of each decorated with an interconnected pattern of diamonds. Both the top and bottom of the bracelet are raised into a convex channel, which has been painted gold, these enclose the base and top edge of the central, decorative, band. Used by Paul Scofield (1922-2008) in Peter Brook's 1971 film of <i>King Lear</i> by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).
Dimensions
  • Circumference: 31cm (approximate)
  • Diameter: 7cm (approximate) (Note: Widest point)
Credit line
Given by Martin Scofield
Association
Literary referenceKing Lear
Summary
Oval, metal bracelet or cuff, dark brown with gold highlights. Worn by Paul Scofield (1922-2008) in Peter Brook's 1971 film of Shakespeare's King Lear.

In 2004 a poll of 200 members of the Royal Shakespeare Company voted Paul Scofield’s King Lear as the greatest performance in a play by Shakespeare. Scofield played Lear for the RSC in 1962, directed by Peter Brook. ‘This production brings me closer to Lear than I have ever been; from now on, I not only know him but can place him in his harsh and unforgiving world’, wrote Kenneth Tynan (Observer, 11 November 1962). Scofield’s towering performance was re-created for the screen when Brook directed a film of the play, released in 1971. This was not intended as a film of the stage version, though it used several of the RSC production’s leading players. It was shot on location in the snow-covered landscapes of North Jutland, Denmark, during the winter of 1968-1969. Filmed in black and white, play and setting matched each other in bleakness.
Other number
THM/397/7/2/2/2 - Archive number
Collection
Accession number
S.148-2013

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJanuary 24, 2014
Record URL
Download as: JSON