Black ribbed silk coat and waistcoat, part of a theatre costume worn by Sir Henry Irving as Dr. Primrose in a production of Olivia at the Lyceum Theatre in ca.1885.

S.841:1-2017 (coat)

Long black ribbed silk and wool blend coat. The coat has a small, narrow, upright collar and long sleeves which end in wide, 'mariner' style cuffs. The coat fastens at the centre front with twenty-two fabric covered buttons. Only twenty-one buttons are now visible as the hem has been turned up masking one of the original button holes. The coat has two large pockets, each bordered by a wide, scallop edged, pocket flap. These pocket flaps, like the coat cuffs, have been embellished with large decorative, fabric covered buttons. Two non-functional fabric covered buttons are also present at the base of the centre back waist seam. The rear 'skirt' of the coat has been shaped with box pleats.

The coat is not lined, but it has been faced with panels of black ribbed silk[?] at the interior of the sleeves, and two panels of black glazed cotton have been used to 'face' the interior of the rear coat panels.

S.841:2-2017 (waistcoat)

Black waistcoat the front panels formed from black ribbed silk, the rear panels formed from fine black wool. The waistcoat fastens at the centre front with a row of nine buttons. The round collar extends into two narrow lapels at the front edge. The lapel on the proper right hand side has been stitched down into place. Two small pockets are present at the base of the front waistcoat panels. A further pocket is present at the upper interior of the proper left hand front panel. An additional horizontal panel of black silk is present at the base of the proper right front panel.
A buckle and fabric straps (with which the fit can be adjusted) are present at the centre back of the waistcoat.

The waistcoat is lined throughout with cream and blue striped cotton.

Given by Sir Donald Sinden

Long black ribbed silk coat and matching waistcoat. These items were part of a theatre costume worn by Sir Henry Irving as Dr Primrose in Olivia by William Gorman Wills (1828–1891).

The play was an adaptation of the novel The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith (1730–1774). Unusually for Irving, his role as the Vicar, Dr Primrose, was secondary to the starring role of Olivia, played by Ellen Terry (1847-1928). The character of a benign, gentle, elderly parent was outside Irving’s usual range, but the play was a great success. First produced in 1885, Irving and Terry were still performing it as late as 1900.

S.841:1,2-2017