Theatre costume

Physical description

Pair of breeches in off white synthetic raw silk overlaid with alternating broad and narrow bands of dull lime green velvet ribbon. The legs are trimmed with a bow of the same ribbon and fasten with hooks and eyes. The breeches fasten at the left with hooks and bars and are supported on elastic braces.

Date

1975 (made)

Artist/maker

Walker, David (Costume designer)

Materials and Techniques

Synthetic silk, velvet ribbon, metal, elastic

Marks and inscriptions

'G. CLARK'

Object history note

The breeches are 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.

Materials

Metal; Velvet; Synthetic silk

Techniques

Painting; Sewing

Collection code

T&P