{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O117463"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O117463/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AA4949/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AA4949/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AA4949","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AA4947","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O117463/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O117463","accessionNumber":"S.1214-1984","objectType":"Glasses","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"These glasses were made for the British actor-manager Henry Irving (1838-1905).  Known as his 'invisible glasses', he wore them on stage as Mephistopheles in W.G.Wills's play <i>Faust</i> at the Lyceum Theatre in December 1885.  They are extremely light and the small lenses would have flashed in the stage lights, producing the diabolic effect which Irving wanted for Mephistopheles's eyes. <i>Faust</i> was one of the most spectacular productions Irving ever attempted, with stage creations of angelic visions, heavenward ascents, descents into the inferno, magical appearances, trap-door vanishings, an understage generation of steam, and even the use of electrical effects.\r\n\r\nIrving was very short-sighted and usually wore glasses or pince-nez until the moment he stepped on stage.  In his biography of his grandfather, Laurence Irving notes that a man would stand by in the wings whenever Irving had an entrance to ensure that he removed his glasses which he hid in his costume. A contemporary engraving of Irving in costume as Hamlet by Arthur Bryan shows his pince-nez suspended from a black velvet ribbon.","physicalDescription":"Pair of glasses with small oval glass lenses, steel wire frames, ear-pieces and bridge. The wire is extremely light and is bent in large loops for the ear pieces. The glasses are made to appear as inconspicuous as possible.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel wire","id":"x39187"},{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel wire and glass lenses","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre","id":"THES250537"},{"text":"Theatre properties","id":"THES286250"},{"text":"Personal accessories","id":"THES48912"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2006AA4949","2006AA4947"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"106","id":"THES49925"},"free":"","case":"CA006B","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"spectacles","id":"AAT236409"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1890","earliest":"1885-01-01","latest":"1894-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the British Theatre Museum Association","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"3.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"across each lens","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"1.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of each oval lens","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"across the bridge","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"10.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"of each arm from lens to ear piece","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given to the British Theatre Museum Association by Edward Craig (the artist Edward Carrick, son of Edward Gordon Craig) in April 1968.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Invisible glasses' worn on stage by Henry Irving (1828-1905) as Mephistopheles in <i>Faust</i> by W.G. Wills","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Irving, Henry","id":"N1283"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Gallery rotation. 2022\n\nELECTRIC SHOE AND INVISIBLE GLASSES WORN BY HENRY IRVING IN <i>FAUST</i>\r\n1885\n\r\nHenry Irving was aware of the impact of lighting and exploited the gloom of the Lyceum’s gas-lit stage. These glasses were invisible from the auditorium but gleamed under stage lights so that Mephistopheles’s eyes appeared to cast a demonic beam. Using the latest technology, Irving ingeniously engineered a spectacular sword fight between Faust, Mephistopheles and Valentine. Real electric sparks flashed between their clashing blades. Metal plates on the stage carried the current through special shoes worn by the performers and into their swords.\r\n\nGlasses\r\nSteel wire and glass lenses\r\nGiven by the British Theatre Museum Association\r\nMuseum no. S.1214-1984\r\n\nShoe\r\nSuede, canvas, metal and wire\r\nGiven by the Royal Shakespeare Company\r\nMuseum no. S.2766:12-2010","date":{"text":"07/03/2022","earliest":"2022-03-07","latest":"2022-03-07"}}],"partNumbers":["S.1214-1984"],"accessionNumberNum":"1214","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1984,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"BTMA accession number","id":"THES51752"},"number":"1968/A/40"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-29","recordCreationDate":"2005-10-05","availableToBook":false}}