Othello
Wig
1964 (made)
1964 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Wig made from short black human hair on a mesh cap. The hairs have been individually hooked onto the netting. Interspersed throughout the black hair are grey and brown hairs to give a natural look. The cap is made from three different types of mesh: a soft caul net covering the crown of the head; a hard vegetable net around the circumference of the head, designed to keep the shape of the wig; and a soft nylon net for the hairline, the front, and behind the ears, dyed brown. Inside the cap are cross-springs covered in galloon tape stitched into the net, designed to hold the wig in place over the ears.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Othello (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Human crepe hair on mesh netting |
| Brief description | Wig, worn by Laurence Olivier as Othello, National Theatre at the Old Vic, 1964. |
| Physical description | Wig made from short black human hair on a mesh cap. The hairs have been individually hooked onto the netting. Interspersed throughout the black hair are grey and brown hairs to give a natural look. The cap is made from three different types of mesh: a soft caul net covering the crown of the head; a hard vegetable net around the circumference of the head, designed to keep the shape of the wig; and a soft nylon net for the hairline, the front, and behind the ears, dyed brown. Inside the cap are cross-springs covered in galloon tape stitched into the net, designed to hold the wig in place over the ears. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Wig Creations Ltd' |
| Object history | Costumes purchased at the Royal National Theatre charity auction in 1996, or donated by the National Theatre prior to the auction: S.742 - S.810-1997, S.822 - S.824:2-1997. Associated production: Othello. Playwright: William Shakespeare. Designer: Jocelyn Herbert. Director: John Dexter. Wearer and actor: Laurence Olivier. Character: Othello. Performing company: National Theatre. Old Vic, London, 21.4.1964. Performance category: Drama. Costumes, jewellery, accessories and wigs for this production: S.781:1 - S.800-1997. |
| Associated objects |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.798-1997 |
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| Record created | October 7, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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