Not currently on display at the V&A

Puss in Boots

Costume Design
1949 (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume designs for Lois Green as Princess Sonia in the throne room scene in Puss in Boots, London Palladium, 1949.

In 1947, Val Parnell took over the management of the London Palladium, one of the largest theatres in Britain. Under Parnell, the Palladium presented large-scale spectacular pantomimes until 1987 and became known as the Home of Pantomime due to its lavish productions featuring the biggest celebrity names of the time.

Puss in Boots starred comedian Tommy Trinder as Miffins and American double act George and Bert Bernard as Dandelion and Buttercup. The show’s scenery was designed by Charles Reading, with costumes for the Cat Ballet designed by Erte.
The Times described the show as “very pretty” and “the most spectacular of the three big London pantomimes” that year. The production also featured a speciality act called Al Gordon’s Dogs.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitlePuss in Boots (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Gouache and watercolour on card, with handwritten annotation in pen and ink.
Brief description
Costume designs for Lois Green as Princess Sonia in the throne room scene in Puss in Boots, London Palladium, 1949
Physical description
Costume designs for Lois Green as Princess Sonia in the throne room scene in Puss in Boots, London Palladium, 1949. The design shows two female figures, both wearing long white chiffon dresses with full skirts. Both have blonde, curled hair and are wearing jewelled necklaces. The figure on the left, who is shown in three quarter profile, is also wearing a jewelled crown. The figure on the right, who is facing forwards, has a pale mauve bodice to her dress, whilst the figure on the left has a golden angel, its wings outstretched, at the centre front of her bodice. The dresses of both are decorated with gold stars. The design is annotated in pen and ink, detailing proposed materials for the costumes.
Dimensions
  • Height: 53.3cm
  • Width: 38cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • '"Puss in Boots" - the Princess - throne room scene' (Handwritten annotation in pen and ink across the top of the design)
  • 'White chiffon over blue chiffon over pink chiffon - embroidered in silver sequins and/pearl sequins - Both designs have filet of pearls and spangles on head' (Handwritten annotation in pen and ink at the base of the design)
  • 'Beverley Sutcliffe' (Handwritten annotation in ink, bottom right hand corner.)
Credit line
Given by Roger Fox
Summary
Costume designs for Lois Green as Princess Sonia in the throne room scene in Puss in Boots, London Palladium, 1949.

In 1947, Val Parnell took over the management of the London Palladium, one of the largest theatres in Britain. Under Parnell, the Palladium presented large-scale spectacular pantomimes until 1987 and became known as the Home of Pantomime due to its lavish productions featuring the biggest celebrity names of the time.

Puss in Boots starred comedian Tommy Trinder as Miffins and American double act George and Bert Bernard as Dandelion and Buttercup. The show’s scenery was designed by Charles Reading, with costumes for the Cat Ballet designed by Erte.
The Times described the show as “very pretty” and “the most spectacular of the three big London pantomimes” that year. The production also featured a speciality act called Al Gordon’s Dogs.
Collection
Accession number
S.59-2015

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 createdFebruary 24, 2015
Record URL
Download as: JSON