Dressing Case
1840-1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This dressing case is a good example of a 19th century travelling dressing case. It was made by the firm of John Joseph Mechi (1802-1880), who set up a cutler's business at 130 Leadenhall Street in 1828, from which he moved to number 4, the address given on this box. The leading music hall comic and pantomime dame Harry Randall (1860-1932) used it as a make-up box, and its fine quality and fittings are commensurate with the status that Randall reached as a performer. It was the only personal possession of Harry Randall's that was preserved by his family.
Randall's first professional appearance was in 1884 at Deacon's Music Hall in Islington. Like his good friend Dan Leno, Randall became known for his comedy character songs and his pantomime dames, several of which he performed in pantomimes with Leno. His songs were full of topical jokes and satire, and his characters frequently broke off from singing to launch into a stream of comic patter. He wrote several songs in the form of 'advice' to the audience, such as the one he wrote about the dangers of drinking. Harry Randall was in the first Royal Variety Performance at the Palace Theatre in 1912, and he became so well known that his name was used in the rhyming slang for 'candles' which became known as 'Harry Randalls', or simply 'Harrys!'
Randall's first professional appearance was in 1884 at Deacon's Music Hall in Islington. Like his good friend Dan Leno, Randall became known for his comedy character songs and his pantomime dames, several of which he performed in pantomimes with Leno. His songs were full of topical jokes and satire, and his characters frequently broke off from singing to launch into a stream of comic patter. He wrote several songs in the form of 'advice' to the audience, such as the one he wrote about the dangers of drinking. Harry Randall was in the first Royal Variety Performance at the Palace Theatre in 1912, and he became so well known that his name was used in the rhyming slang for 'candles' which became known as 'Harry Randalls', or simply 'Harrys!'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 27 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Materials and techniques | Wood with inlaid brass and leather and velvet linings |
| Brief description | Dressing case used as a make-up box by the music hall performer Harry Randall. Made by J.J. Mechi, London, c.1850. |
| Physical description | Wooden dressing case with inlaid brass edging to the lid and sides, lock surround and lock, hinges and handle, the base covered in green baize or felt. The lid of the box is lined with ruched and padded blue velvet, around which there is a dark blue leather border stamped with a gilt foliate pattern. The velvet covered lid panel can be hinged outwards but not removed. The box contains a removable wooden tray divided into six compartments, three of the compartments lined with blue leather; two with pads of blue velvet and one without lining but with a wooden lid with a silver knob tray contains a wooden lidded compartment, two small round glass jars with silver lids, a long glass tray with a pierced and chased silver lid and a compartment with indentations for tweezers, a corkscrew, a button hook, an awl, manicure scissors and a nail file. The manicure scissors and one of the tweezers were obviously replacement items since they do not fit into the indentations and the tweezers have a different and more decorative mother of pearl handle. The main body of the dressing case has four deep compartments, three containing silver-lidded jars, and one empty with a wooden lid with a silver knob, similar to the wooden lid in the tray but not the same size. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | 5, 6
HARRY RANDALL’S MAKE-UP CASE
This is a fine example of a 19th-century travelling dressing case. Harry Randall was a comedy actor, famous for his character songs and pantomimes. The quality of the box is a mark of Randall’s status as a performer. The music sheet cover depicts Randall in the costume and make-up he wore to perform a popular song.
Make-up box
1840–60
Brass, glass, leather, mother-of-pearl, silver, steel, velvet and wood
Given by Valerie Appleton
Museum no. S.135:1 to 27–2004
Music sheet cover for a song performed by Harry Randall
About 1900
Printed paper
Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard
Museum no. S.145:2-1989(March 2009) |
| Credit line | Given by the family of John W. Brown |
| Object history | The donor, a relative by marriage to Harry Randall, wrote: "I am the current custodian of his travelling box in which he kept his make-up. It has been passed down through the family originating from his sister in law Mrs Annie (Nancy) Randall who was married to Alf Randall, Harry's brother. She had everything belonging to Harry Randall, his make-up box, his scrap book, his chair and his sheet music. After my Great Aunt Nancy died everything of Harry's was thrown out, except his make-up box which my father's sister kept. At this time it still had his original make in on the jars but when my father's sister died and I became the new owner of the box, all the make-up had been washed out by my aunt, unfortunately." |
| Association | |
| Summary | This dressing case is a good example of a 19th century travelling dressing case. It was made by the firm of John Joseph Mechi (1802-1880), who set up a cutler's business at 130 Leadenhall Street in 1828, from which he moved to number 4, the address given on this box. The leading music hall comic and pantomime dame Harry Randall (1860-1932) used it as a make-up box, and its fine quality and fittings are commensurate with the status that Randall reached as a performer. It was the only personal possession of Harry Randall's that was preserved by his family. Randall's first professional appearance was in 1884 at Deacon's Music Hall in Islington. Like his good friend Dan Leno, Randall became known for his comedy character songs and his pantomime dames, several of which he performed in pantomimes with Leno. His songs were full of topical jokes and satire, and his characters frequently broke off from singing to launch into a stream of comic patter. He wrote several songs in the form of 'advice' to the audience, such as the one he wrote about the dangers of drinking. Harry Randall was in the first Royal Variety Performance at the Palace Theatre in 1912, and he became so well known that his name was used in the rhyming slang for 'candles' which became known as 'Harry Randalls', or simply 'Harrys!' |
| Bibliographic reference | The Performer, 21 June 1906, advertisement of engagement. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.135:1 to 27-2004 |
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| Record created | October 8, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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