Theatre Costume thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Theatre Costume

1975 (made)
Artist/Maker

Long waistcoat in 18th century style with two pocket flaps concealing slit pockets and two small slits to either side at waist level. The front is of pink brocade woven with stylized roses in soft white overlaid with a fine artificial chiffon embroidered all over with pink and silver petalled flowers. The front, lower edges and pocket flaps are edged with a bold white braid decorated with gold waves, the top and bottom edges of silver picots. Below the pocket flaps are two large buttons covered with the pink and white brocade. Down the front are eight smaller buttons covered in the same fabric. The waistcoat fastens with hooks and eyes
The back is of pale pink-white artificial silk. At the back waist are two small panels with eyelets laced with brown cord.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Brocade, synthetic chiffon, braid, with embroidery
Brief description
Long 18th century style waistcoat, the front of pink brocade overlaid with embroidered artificial chiffon in pink and silver, and the fronts, lower edges and pocket flaps edged with white and gold braid and silver pekoes, designed by David Walker for the Italian Singer in Richard Strauss' opera Der Rosenkavalier, English National Opera, 1975
Physical description
Long waistcoat in 18th century style with two pocket flaps concealing slit pockets and two small slits to either side at waist level. The front is of pink brocade woven with stylized roses in soft white overlaid with a fine artificial chiffon embroidered all over with pink and silver petalled flowers. The front, lower edges and pocket flaps are edged with a bold white braid decorated with gold waves, the top and bottom edges of silver picots. Below the pocket flaps are two large buttons covered with the pink and white brocade. Down the front are eight smaller buttons covered in the same fabric. The waistcoat fastens with hooks and eyes
The back is of pale pink-white artificial silk. At the back waist are two small panels with eyelets laced with brown cord.
Dimensions
  • Collar to hem length: 70cm (approximate)
  • Widest point width: 44cm (approximate)
  • Whole costume (including breeches and jacket) weight: 5.9kg (approximate)
Credit line
Given by English National Opera
Object history
This waistcoat is part of the costume designed by David Walker for the Italian Singer in Richard Strauss' opera Der Rosenkavalier, English National Opera, 1975.

Historical significance: A fine example of theatre costume making from the 1970s, showing how period costume can be at once a reflection of historical understand and theatrical effectiveness, so that it is recognisable as period costume but, in its cut and use of materials, obvious as a creation of its time.
Collection
Accession number
S.264:2-1999

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Record createdSeptember 1, 2000
Record URL
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