Not currently on display at the V&A

Costume Design

1966 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume design for Sybil Thorndike as Abby in Act 1 of "Arsenic and Old Lace". The design shows a full length female figure with both arms extended. The figure wears a jacket and full length plum coloured Edwardian gown with lace collar. The background is lightly painted with grey paint. Extensively annotated in pencil by artist. Pencil doodle on reverse.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pencil, white paint, gouache, on paper
Brief description
Costume design by Anthony Holland for Sybil Thorndike as Abby in Act 1 of Arsenic and Old Lace, Vaudeville Theatre, 1966
Physical description
Costume design for Sybil Thorndike as Abby in Act 1 of "Arsenic and Old Lace". The design shows a full length female figure with both arms extended. The figure wears a jacket and full length plum coloured Edwardian gown with lace collar. The background is lightly painted with grey paint. Extensively annotated in pencil by artist. Pencil doodle on reverse.
Dimensions
  • Height: 379mm
  • Width: 278mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • ' A 100 / "Arsenic and Old Lace" / Abby Act 1 / Dame Sybil Thorndike ' (Textual information; Upper right hand corner; Handwriting; Pencil)
  • ' "Arsenic And Old Lace" / Abby - Act 1 / (Sybil Thorndike) ' (Textual information; Upper left hand corner; handwriting; pencil)
  • ' Anthony Holland ' (Signature; Lower right hand corner; handwriting; pencil)
Credit line
Given by Anthony Holland
Object history
This costume design by Anthony Holland is part of an extensive collection of designs donated to the Theatre Museum by the artist in 1996. The design was executed for a production of Joseph Kesselring's play Arsenic and Old Lace held at the Vaudeville Theatre, 1966. The production was directed by Murray MacDonald.
Subjects depicted
Association
Literary referenceArsenic and Old Lace
Collection
Accession number
S.521-2000

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Record createdAugust 2, 2000
Record URL
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