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Film Costume

1968 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Copper bracelet or cuff. Used by Paul Scofield (1922-2008) in Peter Brook's 1971 film of King Lear by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

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
Copper, engraving
Brief description
Copper bracelet or cuff. Worn by Paul Scofield (1922-2008) in Peter Brook's 1971 film of Shakespeare's King Lear
Physical description
Copper bracelet or cuff. There are no fastenings but the bracelet fits relatively tightly to the wrist, with a small opening at the centre back. The bracelet narrows at this point, widening from the left and right edge of the opening to meet in a wide, softened diamond at the centre front. The copper ground of the bracelet has been incised with a series of Celtic inspired motifs, primarily the four pointed cross. Used by Paul Scofield (1922-2008) in Peter Brook's 1971 film of <i>King Lear</i> by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).
Dimensions
  • Circumference: 26.5cm (approximate)
  • Diameter: 8.5cm (approximate) (Note: Widest point)
Credit line
Given by Martin Scofield
Association
Literary referenceKing Lear
Summary
Copper bracelet or cuff. Used by Paul Scofield (1922-2008) in Peter Brook's 1971 film of King Lear by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

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.149-2013

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Record createdJanuary 24, 2014
Record URL
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