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The Yeomen of the Guard

Theatre Costume
1992 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume consisting of jacket, tunic, waistcoat and hat. Worn by Fenton Gray as Jack Point, in a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company production of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's opera, The Yeomen of the Guard, designed by James Hendy, 1992.


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
  • Tunic
  • Theatre Costume
  • Waistcoat
  • Theatre Costume
  • Hat
TitleThe Yeomen of the Guard (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Cotton; Metal; Feathers; Metal; Elastic
Brief description
Costume consisting of jacket, waistcoat, tunic and hat. Worn by Fenton Gray as Jack Point in a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company production of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's opera, The Yeomen of the Guard, 1992

Physical description
S.710:1-2019: Jacket

Short sleeved multicoloured jacket in tones of green, yellow, brown and blue. The upper part of the jacket is formed from multi-coloured strips of cotton, which have been stitched together on fabric panels. Decorative top stitching has been used to create the illusion of roughly stitched patches and the uneven shape and size of the fabric strips heightens this effect.

The upper part of the tunic also features decorative feathers at the shoulder line. There were originally 4 dark feathers, one is now lost. The remaining feathers are positioned at the front and rear of the right and left shoulder.

The waistline of the jacket sits slightly above the natural level. The bodice of the jacket opens-up below the waistline into a wide, slightly flared, skirt formed from hanging strips of the same heavyweight cotton fabric used for the bodice. The edges of these strips have been deliberately left to fray.

It is not lined and there are no fastenings. There is an interior pocket at the proper left hand side.

S.710:2-2019: Tunic

Sleeveless brown faux suede tunic with imitation suede panel at the centre front. The tunic has a round neckline and defined waistline, with a straight ‘skirt’ section beneath.

There are two dark brown, faux leather belt lops at the rear (one at each side seam), but, with the exception of the top stitching used to shape the fabric into soft pleats, the back is otherwise plain.

The interior of the tunic is unlined, but two curved bands of black elastic have been added to the interior of each hip, possible to add shaping and flexibility to the tunic at this point.

The round neckline is edged with a narrow band of dark faux leather and there is a slightly ‘V’ shaped vent beneath. The two front panels of the tunic are joined together with lengths of faux leather laces which lace through pairs of brass metal eyelets.

S.710:3-2019: Waistcoat

Brown faux suede waistcoat. The stitched hem and edges of the waistcoat are rough and uneven and the body of the waistcoat has been deliberately distressed, with the addition of holes, false patches and stitches imitating darning.

The waistcoat is not lined. It fastens at the centre front with black cotton laces which thread through metal eyelets.

S.710:4-2019: Hat

Dark brown cap which fits closely to the head. The cap has a soft dark fabric ground which has been covered with feathers. It curves up into a padded round projecting point at the centre back (shaped to resemble a bird’s neck). The top of this point has been decorated with a beak, comb and wattles to re-create a chicken’s head. It is not lined. A short elastic strap runs across the base under the chin.

Dimensions
  • S.710 1 2019, jacket, collar to hem length: 121 (approximate)
  • S.710 1 2019, jacket, across shoulders width: 52cm (approximate)
  • S.710 1 2019, jacket, across waist, front width: 52cm (approximate)
  • S.710 2 2019, tunic, rear collar to hem length: 106cm (approximate)
  • S.710 2 2019, tunic, across shoulders width: 52cm (approximate)
  • S.710 2 2019, tunic, across waist, front width: 45cm (approximate)
  • S.710 3 2019, waistcoat, full length, collar to hem length: 89cm (approximate)
  • S.710 3 2019, waistcoat, across shoulders width: 43.2cm (approximate)
  • S.710 3 2019, waistcoat, across waist, front. width: 57cm (approximate)
  • S.710 4 2019, hat, front to back width: 22cm (approximate)
  • S.710 4 2019, hat, across rear width: 25cm (approximate)
  • S.710 4 2019, hat height: 31cm (approximate)
Marks and inscriptions
“FENTON/JACK POINT” (Handwritten annotation in black ink at the centre back exterior of the collar)
Summary
Costume consisting of jacket, tunic, waistcoat and hat. Worn by Fenton Gray as Jack Point, in a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company production of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's opera, The Yeomen of the Guard, designed by James Hendy, 1992.
Collection
Accession number
S.710:1 to 4-2019

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Record createdNovember 26, 2019
Record URL
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