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Not currently on display at the V&A

Theatre Costume

Theatre Costume
1912 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume for a 'Watteau Boy' in La Danse, Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 1912. Worn by 'Miss Florence,' designed by Wilhelm, and made in London by the costumier, Miss Hastings.

La Danse, subtitled "An Authentic Record by Adeline Genée of Dancing and Dancers between the Years 1710 and 1845" was a ballet created by the Danish ballerina for the company she put together to tour in the USA and subsequently in Britain. The entertainment was devised to illustrate the history of dance style and technique introducing a series of leading ballerinas (including Mlles Prevot, Camargo, Sallé, Guimard and Taglioni all danced by Genée). In planning the production, Genée was assisted by the composer Dora Bright who researched and arranged the music and the designer Wilhelm who was responsible for the designs.
It was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House on 17 December 1912 and later performed at the London Coliseum in 1914 and the Royal Opera House. Genée’s career had developed in a period where many young men’s parts were performed by women and the costumes for the ‘Watteau Boys’ are good examples of such designs for women at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries.
The costumes were given to the Royal Academy of Dancing by Adeline Genée who in turn passed them to the V&A. The RAD holds an inventory of the costumes made by Miss Hastings, a theatrical costumier, which she made for the 1912-13 USA tour. The entry for Miss Farnham under the heading 'Watteau Boys - Louis XV' reads 'Shot Silk Coat and Breeches, Shot Silk Cape, Cords and Tassels, Buttons, Braids, Muslin Ruff and Frills, Sundries, Making, Velvet Cap. The cost is given as seven pounds and fifteen shillings (excluding '2 prs. Hose').


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Theatre Costume
  • Jacket
  • Theatre Costume
  • Breeches
  • Theatre Costume
  • Shoe
  • Theatre Costume
  • Shoe
TitleTheatre Costume (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Machine and hand stitched, shot silk with metal fastenings
Brief description
Costume for a 'Watteau Boy' in La Danse, Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 1912
Physical description
Costume for a 'Watteau Boy' in La Danse, Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 1912. Worn by Miss Florence. Brown/pink shot silk coat and breeches, originally worn with a shot silk cape.
Credit line
Given by the Royal Academy of Dance
Summary
Costume for a 'Watteau Boy' in La Danse, Metropolitan Opera House, New York, 1912. Worn by 'Miss Florence,' designed by Wilhelm, and made in London by the costumier, Miss Hastings.

La Danse, subtitled "An Authentic Record by Adeline Genée of Dancing and Dancers between the Years 1710 and 1845" was a ballet created by the Danish ballerina for the company she put together to tour in the USA and subsequently in Britain. The entertainment was devised to illustrate the history of dance style and technique introducing a series of leading ballerinas (including Mlles Prevot, Camargo, Sallé, Guimard and Taglioni all danced by Genée). In planning the production, Genée was assisted by the composer Dora Bright who researched and arranged the music and the designer Wilhelm who was responsible for the designs.
It was premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House on 17 December 1912 and later performed at the London Coliseum in 1914 and the Royal Opera House. Genée’s career had developed in a period where many young men’s parts were performed by women and the costumes for the ‘Watteau Boys’ are good examples of such designs for women at the turn of the 19th/20th centuries.
The costumes were given to the Royal Academy of Dancing by Adeline Genée who in turn passed them to the V&A. The RAD holds an inventory of the costumes made by Miss Hastings, a theatrical costumier, which she made for the 1912-13 USA tour. The entry for Miss Farnham under the heading 'Watteau Boys - Louis XV' reads 'Shot Silk Coat and Breeches, Shot Silk Cape, Cords and Tassels, Buttons, Braids, Muslin Ruff and Frills, Sundries, Making, Velvet Cap. The cost is given as seven pounds and fifteen shillings (excluding '2 prs. Hose').
Collection
Accession number
S.1467&C-1982

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Record createdSeptember 30, 2015
Record URL
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