Quick-change pink and purple jester costume worn by Percy Honri, 20th century

A ‘quick-change’ costume in purple and pink 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
Long sleeved jacket, formed from panels of purple and pale pink silk satin. The jacket has a round neckline with a false cotton collar. This has been edged with a narrow band of machine lace. The sleeve cuffs are also edged with a wide band of machine lace.
A scalloped panel of silk (purple at the front and pale pink at the rear) hangs from the base of the each of the upper arms. A small purple silk tassel was suspended from the base of each of these hanging panels, (though only one now remains).
The proper right hand front panel of the jacket is formed from a patchwork of small squares of pink and purple silk satin. The proper left front panel is formed from long vertical stripes of the same purple and pink silk satin. These stripes and squares are edged with lines of purple metal spangles.
A similar decorative effective has been used on each of the sleeves, in this instance the upper part of each sleeve is plain but the lower part of the sleeve, towards the cuff, is formed from a patchwork of purple and pink silk satin squares.
The jacket is lined throughout with pale lilac cotton.
The costume was originally secured in multiple places with lacing. Whilst the original lacing has not survived, eyelets and hooks are present at underside of the arms and run from here around the edge of the base panels of the jacket front. Further eyelets are present at the base of the triangular panels which run from the shoulder line to the centre front to form the upper part of the jacket front.

Part 2: Shorts
Purple and pink silk shorts, with one side formed from purple silk and the other half formed from pink silk. The sides are secured with narrow lengths of elastic at the proper left and proper right hip. Four wide lengths of elastic have been added at the interior front and interior rear of the waistline. The shorts are largely plain, but parallel lines of top stitching have been used at the waistline. They are lined with pale lilac cotton.

Part 3: Overskirt
‘Overskirt’, formed from purple silk and decorated with purple metal spangles. The front and rear panels extend into scallop edged hanging ‘points’. These ‘points’ are edged with lines of pink spangles and embellished with spiralling patterns (resembling treble clefs) also formed from pink spangles. A deep purple silk tassel hangs from the base of each point.
Metal eyelets have been set into the proper left side seam of the overskirt. The original lacing securing these eyelets has not survived. The interior of the skirt is faced with pale purple coloured cotton. Metal hooks have been set into the interior of the waistband, perhaps to secure the skirt to the jacket. A combination of hand and machine stitching has been used.

Part 4: Tights
Silk jersey knitted tights in tones of pink and black. The top part of the tights are formed from triangular panels of differently coloured silk jersey. The tights include long looped braces formed from wide bands of elastic. These run from the waistband up and other shoulder line.

Part 5: Left Shoe
Pink 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 6: Right Shoe
Purple 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 7: Hat (for Honri)
Jester’s style hat in purple and pink silk satin. The hat has a wide round brim which has been stiffened with wire and is edged with purple metal spangles. The hat extends into a point at the crown and this falls softly forward, finishing in a brass 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 the remains of a metal ‘bell’ at the tip.
The interior of the hat is lined with lilac 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, performing at the London Palladium.

Until 1935, Honri continued with his 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, chronicling their history in the book 'Working the Halls'.

S.1007:1 to 7-2017