Firebird
Theatre Costume
1910 (made)
1910 (made)
Costume originally designed by Alexander Golovin for a female retainer of Kostchei in the ballet The Firebird created for Serge Diaghilev’s Saison Russe, 1910.
It appears that this costume created to the 1910 design by Alexander Golovin for a female retainer of Kostchei in the ballet The Firebird was repurposed, possibly by Vera Sudeikina, for reuse in the 1926 revival for which Natalia Goncharova was responsible for the designs.
The retainers of Kostchei appear part way through the ballet pouring through the gates ahead of the immortal tyrant. They perform in the infernal dance and are then lulled to sleep by the Firebird to enable Ivan to seek for the egg containing Kostchei’s soul.
At the National Gallery, Canberra, conservators have removed the added braid and corduroy to show what the original costume looked like.
It appears that this costume created to the 1910 design by Alexander Golovin for a female retainer of Kostchei in the ballet The Firebird was repurposed, possibly by Vera Sudeikina, for reuse in the 1926 revival for which Natalia Goncharova was responsible for the designs.
The retainers of Kostchei appear part way through the ballet pouring through the gates ahead of the immortal tyrant. They perform in the infernal dance and are then lulled to sleep by the Firebird to enable Ivan to seek for the egg containing Kostchei’s soul.
At the National Gallery, Canberra, conservators have removed the added braid and corduroy to show what the original costume looked like.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Firebird (generic title) |
| Brief description | Costume originally designed by Alexander Golovin for a female retainer of Kostchei in the ballet The Firebird created for Serge Diaghilev’s Saison Russe, 1910 |
| Physical description | Costume, probably for a Female Retainer of Kostchei. Long, loose, kaftan-style sleeved dress in beige cotton, with stand-up braid collar. The front panel and skirt are in pink cotton and the long underskirt in neutral cotton. The original costume is painted with various patterns in pale green grey, slate and lilac. There are arches of blue and white at the hem of the overskirt and a pattern in brown, green and blue at the hem of the underskirt. To the basic pattern silver braids, appliqued sections of pink corduroy, black tape and gold lace has been added making the colours stronger. The changes were possibly introduced when designer Natalia Goncharova and Vera Sudeikina adapted the costume for the 1926 revival. |
| Summary | Costume originally designed by Alexander Golovin for a female retainer of Kostchei in the ballet The Firebird created for Serge Diaghilev’s Saison Russe, 1910. It appears that this costume created to the 1910 design by Alexander Golovin for a female retainer of Kostchei in the ballet The Firebird was repurposed, possibly by Vera Sudeikina, for reuse in the 1926 revival for which Natalia Goncharova was responsible for the designs. The retainers of Kostchei appear part way through the ballet pouring through the gates ahead of the immortal tyrant. They perform in the infernal dance and are then lulled to sleep by the Firebird to enable Ivan to seek for the egg containing Kostchei’s soul. At the National Gallery, Canberra, conservators have removed the added braid and corduroy to show what the original costume looked like. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.564-1989 |
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| Record created | July 1, 2009 |
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