Quick-change blue and orange jester costume worn by Percy Honri, 20th century

A ‘quick-change’ costume in orange and blue silk satin worn by Perci Honri (1874-1953). The costume is formed from 8 parts, and includes a hat and shoes in the same fabric. There was also a smaller, matching hat, for Honri’s Jester Stick.

Part 1: Jacket (proper left side)
Proper left part or ‘side’ of a jacket, formed from orange and blue silk satin. The jacket has a single long sleeve and is constructed from panels of orange and blue silk to create a patchwork effect.
There is a false cotton collar, edged with a narrow band of machine lace. The sleeve cuff is also edged with a wide band of machine lace.
A scalloped panel of silk (blue at the front and orange at the rear) hangs from the base of the upper arm.
The surface of the jacket is embellished stripes of contrasting silk satin and these are edged with lines of blue and silver metal spangles. It is lined throughout with blue cotton.
The costume was originally secured in multiple places with lacing (including the rear and the arm) and, whilst the lacing has not survived, eyelets and hooks are present at the arm, centre front and centre back.

Part 2: Jacket (proper right side)
Proper right part or ‘side’ of a jacket, formed from orange and blue silk satin. The jacket has a single long sleeve and is constructed from panels of orange and blue silk to create a patchwork effect.
There is a false cotton collar, edged with a narrow band of machine lace. The sleeve cuff is also edged with a wide band of machine lace.
A scalloped panel of silk (orange at the front and blue at the rear) hangs from the base of the upper arm.
The surface of the jacket is embellished stripes of contrasting silk satin and these are edged with lines of gold and silver metal spangles. It is lined throughout with blue cotton.
The costume was originally secured in multiple places with lacing (including the rear and the arm) at the arm, centre front and centre back.

Part 3: Shorts
Blue and orange silk shorts, with one side formed from blue silk and the other half formed from orange silk. Bands of elastic run round the interior of the leg opening. The sides are secured with lengths of elastic at the proper left and proper right hip. They are lined with pale blue cotton.
The shorts are largely plain, but parallel lines of top stitching have been used at the waistline.

Part 4: Overskirt
‘Overskirt’, the waistband formed from blue silk and decorated with horizontal lines of gold spangles. The front and rear panels extend into scallop edged hanging ‘points’. These ‘points’ are edged with lines of gold spangles and embellished with spiralling patterns (resembling treble clefs) formed from silver spangles. A saffron coloured silk tassel hangs from the base of each point.
Metal eyelets have been set into the proper left side seam of the overskirt. Remains of the original lacing (formed from stiff red twine) have survived. The interior of the skirt is faced with blue and saffron coloured cotton. A dark blue piece of fabric has been used to mark the centre back of the skirt and some metal hooks have been added to the interior of the waistband, perhaps to secure the skirt to the jacket. A combination of hand and machine stitching has been used.

Part 5: Tights
Parti-coloured blue and orange silk jersey knitted tights with matching coloured panels of knitted wool set into the waistband. The tights include long looped braces formed from wide bands of elastic. These run from the waistband up and other shoulder line.
A label at the interior of the waist reads ‘WHITE & SONS/NUTTALL WORKS/ NOTTINGHAM.’

Part 6: Left Shoe
Blue silk satin left shoe. One of a pair of long narrow shoes with a silk satin upper and a leather sole. The shoes have a slight heel at the rear and extend into a soft point at the toe. Whilst they now show signs of distortion (as a result of previous storage) they previously rose up into a stiff wide triangular point at the front and rear ankle.

Part 7: Right Shoe
Orange silk satin right shoe. One of a pair of long narrow shoes with a silk satin upper and a leather sole. The shoes have a slight heel at the rear and extend into a soft point at the toe. Whilst they now show signs of distortion (as a result of previous storage) they previously rose up into a stiff wide triangular point at the front and rear ankle.

Part 8: Hat (for Honri)
Jester’s style hat in blue and orange silk satin. The hat has a wide round brim which has been stiffened with wire and is edged with blue metal spangles. The hat extends into a point at the crown and this falls softly forward, finishing in a bell at the tip. Two curved points extend out from the proper left and proper right side of the hat. These curved points have been shaped with wadding and are finished with a metal ‘bell’ at the tip.
The interior of the hat is lined with blue cotton.
A combination of hand and machine sewing has been used in its construction.

Given by the descendants of Percy Honri

Percy Honri (1873-1953) was a musical entertainer of music hall and revue. The name of Honri has been used since he appeared with his father (Harry Thompson) at the Folies Bergere in Paris.

Honri’s musical talent was influenced by his parents, Harry Thompson (1850-1937) and Mary Horwood (1852-1914) who were also music hall entertainers. In 1884, Percy Honri joined the Thompson Trio with his parents, performing in music halls and theatres. In 1890, the Trio changed their name to the Royal Thompson Trio. In 1893, Honri toured with his parents in the States, and in 1898, he performed as a solo act. His well-known show, Concordia was hugely successful, taking the show to the London Palladium and securing a ten-year contract.

Until 1935 Honri continued with his solo performances, labelled the ‘King of the Concertina’. His daughter Mary Honri (1910-1988) then acted with him on stage as ‘Mary and Percy Honri’. Honri’s grandchild, Peter Honri (1929- 2016) continued their family theatrical tradition and chronicled their history in the book 'Working the Halls'.

S.1006:1 to 8-2017