Cloak worn by Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, St James's Theatre, 1951
Theatre Costume
1951 (made)
1951 (made)
Artist/Maker |
Cloak worn by Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra. Full length shaped cloak of black cotton and gold tinsel brocatelle in fish scale pattern; on the main body the fish scale motif is outlined in pale blue paint. Most of the gold tinsel is worn away. At the centre back, broadening out from the neck to hem, is a strip of pale blue and silver tinsel cloth. The long slit armholes are bordered with bands of pale blue and silver tinsel cloth, which continue below the armhole to link to a broader band which forms a facing up the front edges of the cloak.
The cape collar over the fitted shoulders is formed of overlapping layers of graduated "leaves" of orange brown cotton shaped with black dye and gold paint, the centre of each leaf having a narrow spine of gold tinsel ribbon. Around the lower third of the cloak are similar, longer orange brown cotton "leaves" shaded with black dye and gold paint, the centre of each having a narrow spine of gold tinsel ribbon; on the top two layers, each small leaf is decorated with a plastic turquoise jewel.
On each lower front facing is a large appliqué gold tissue motif, studded with blue plastic jewels; around the sleeve bands are small plastic turquoise jewels; down the front facings are larger turquoise jewels mounted on gold ribbon, alternating with blue plastic jewels.
At the front neck is a padded shape of black jersey painted and decorated with a loop of gold Russia braid and a large plastic jewel. Concealed under this is a large hook and bar fastening. The cloak is lined with shot black and gold artificial silk.
The cape collar over the fitted shoulders is formed of overlapping layers of graduated "leaves" of orange brown cotton shaped with black dye and gold paint, the centre of each leaf having a narrow spine of gold tinsel ribbon. Around the lower third of the cloak are similar, longer orange brown cotton "leaves" shaded with black dye and gold paint, the centre of each having a narrow spine of gold tinsel ribbon; on the top two layers, each small leaf is decorated with a plastic turquoise jewel.
On each lower front facing is a large appliqué gold tissue motif, studded with blue plastic jewels; around the sleeve bands are small plastic turquoise jewels; down the front facings are larger turquoise jewels mounted on gold ribbon, alternating with blue plastic jewels.
At the front neck is a padded shape of black jersey painted and decorated with a loop of gold Russia braid and a large plastic jewel. Concealed under this is a large hook and bar fastening. The cloak is lined with shot black and gold artificial silk.
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Conserving Vivien Leigh's Cleopatra Cloak
In this ASMR video, watch and listen as Senior Textile Conservator Susana Fajardo works on a cloak worn by Vivien Leigh for her performance as Cleopatra in Shakespeare's play 'Antony and Cleopatra', at the St. James's Theatre in 1951.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Cloak worn by Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, St James's Theatre, 1951 (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Cotton, artificial silk, gold braid, tinsel, paint and plastic jewels |
Brief description | Cloak worn by Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra, St James's Theatre, 11 May 1951 |
Physical description | Cloak worn by Vivien Leigh as Cleopatra in Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra. Full length shaped cloak of black cotton and gold tinsel brocatelle in fish scale pattern; on the main body the fish scale motif is outlined in pale blue paint. Most of the gold tinsel is worn away. At the centre back, broadening out from the neck to hem, is a strip of pale blue and silver tinsel cloth. The long slit armholes are bordered with bands of pale blue and silver tinsel cloth, which continue below the armhole to link to a broader band which forms a facing up the front edges of the cloak. The cape collar over the fitted shoulders is formed of overlapping layers of graduated "leaves" of orange brown cotton shaped with black dye and gold paint, the centre of each leaf having a narrow spine of gold tinsel ribbon. Around the lower third of the cloak are similar, longer orange brown cotton "leaves" shaded with black dye and gold paint, the centre of each having a narrow spine of gold tinsel ribbon; on the top two layers, each small leaf is decorated with a plastic turquoise jewel. On each lower front facing is a large appliqué gold tissue motif, studded with blue plastic jewels; around the sleeve bands are small plastic turquoise jewels; down the front facings are larger turquoise jewels mounted on gold ribbon, alternating with blue plastic jewels. At the front neck is a padded shape of black jersey painted and decorated with a loop of gold Russia braid and a large plastic jewel. Concealed under this is a large hook and bar fastening. The cloak is lined with shot black and gold artificial silk. |
Dimensions |
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Production type | Unique |
Gallery label |
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Production | Reason For Production: Commission |
Associations | |
Literary reference | Antony and Cleopatra |
Collection | |
Accession number | S.942-1982 |
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Record created | April 26, 2004 |
Record URL |
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