{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1175043"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1175043/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LK6070/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LK6070/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019LK6070","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LK6071","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LK5258","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LK5259","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LK5256","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LK5257","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LK6072","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LK6073","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KX3921","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KX3922","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1175043/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1175043","accessionNumber":"S.2721:1 to 5-2010","objectType":"Theatre costume","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Henry Irving (1838-1905) wore this costume as Corporal Gregory Brewster in <i>A Story of Waterloo</i>, a one act play written by Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). The action is set in 1881, but the central theme is the veteran soldier Brewster recounting to a visitor his memories of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.  Irving first produced the play in 1894 and it never lost its popularity with his audiences.  It was the last role he performed on the London stage, at a charitable matinee in June 1905. \r\n\r\nIrving became a professional actor in 1856, and learned his trade in regional theatres until 1866, when he came to London.  He joined the Lyceum Theatre company under the management of H. L. Bateman in 1871, winning great acclaim that year for his psychologically developed characterisation of the guilt-ridden inn-keeper Mathias in Leopold Lewis's melodrama <i>The Bells</i>.  He took on the responsibilities of 'actor-manager' in 1878 when he assumed the management of the Lyceum, and remained there until 1902, enjoying star status with his leading lady Ellen Terry (1847-1928).   Irving produced a diverse range of old and new plays at the Lyceum, including Shakespeare, historical drama, and literary adaptations.  His tireless work to elevate the status of the theatrical profession was rewarded in 1895 when he became the first actor ever to receive a knighthood for services to the Theatre.\r\n\r\nIrving specialised in spectacularly staged productions with large casts of performers. He commissioned designers and composers to create appropriate scenery, costume and incidental music, played by a full orchestra.  Although electric lighting was available from the 1880s, Irving preferred the softer effects of gas, with lime light to focus attention at key points in the play.  Irving toured complete productions outside London, taking the full company, scenery and costumes throughout the United Kingdom and across the United States and Canada.   The development of the railway system made his the first generation able to achieve this level of touring productions.","physicalDescription":"Costume consisting of:\r\nLate 19th century style jacket in pale brown brushed cotton, printed or woven to resemble tweed. Faced with glazed cotton. Two slit pockets, one watch pocket. Originally fastening with four buttons at the centre front, only three remaining (one of the remaining buttons does not match). Two further buttons at back (one missing). Gussets of grey wool added under arms.\r\nWaistcoat with shawl collar, cream cotton woven with stylised ferns and leaves in blue/green, lined with red wool flannel. Two small pockets at the front. 5 beige buttons (one missing) and six button holes at the centre front. Straps and buckle at the back to adjust width. Back panels made from biege twilled cotton. Very dirty.\r\nPale grey shirt, wool/cotton flannel, with vertical cream stripes. Front fastened with four 'pearl' buttons. Shirt shows signs that it has been deliberately 'distressed'. Small round collar (much darned) with points removed. It has been deliberately cut open down front and a section of fabric has been cutaway from the rear.\r\nBrown wool corduroy trousers. Fall front fastened with two mismatched buttons. Centre front fastening with four metal buttons, manufactured by H. Poole & Co., Savile Row. Six further metal buttons around waistband, five by Poole, one stamped Excelsior. Pockets on each side, each fastened with one button but only one remaining. Adjustable band at back of waist.\r\nBlack and white checked silk necktie. Reinforced with additional purple and white checked cotton interlining at collar section.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Harrorows","id":"A36573"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"shirt"},{"name":{"text":"Henry Poole & Co.","id":"C3129"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":"trousers/buttons"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"wool (textile)","id":"AAT243430"},{"text":"corduroy","id":"AAT14080"},{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sewing","id":"AAT53658"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Brushed cotton, glazed cotton and wool, cotton/wool mix fabric, corduroy, silk","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre costume","id":"THES268477"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019LK6070","2019LK6071","2019LK5258","2019LK5259","2019LK5256","2019LK5257","2019LK6072","2019LK6073","2018KX3921","2018KX3922"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES366755"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES366821"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES366821"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES366755"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES344369"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"jacket","id":""}],[{"text":"theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"waistcoat","id":""}],[{"text":"theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"shirt","id":""}],[{"text":"theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"trousers","id":""}],[{"text":"theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"necktie","id":""}],[{"text":"theatre costume","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"worn","id":"x34724"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1894","earliest":"1894-01-01","latest":"1894-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Royal Shakespeare Company","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"138","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/07/2018","earliest":"2018-07-12","latest":"2018-07-12"},"part":"part 5","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"4.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/07/2018","earliest":"2018-07-12","latest":"2018-07-12"},"part":"part 5","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"0.6","unit":"kg","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/07/2018","earliest":"2018-07-12","latest":"2018-07-12"},"part":"part 5","note":"5.3 kg with its box (other objects included)"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Museum of London note: 'Not listed in Holmes.'","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Theatrical ensemble of jacket, waistcoat, shirt, trousers and necktie worn by Henry Irving as Corporal Brewster in \"Waterloo\" by A. Conan Doyle, 1895.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.2721:1-2010","S.2721:2-2010","S.2721:3-2010","S.2721:4-2010","S.2721:5-2010"],"accessionNumberNum":"2721","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2010,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Museum of London number","id":"THES55722"},"number":"56.4/8a to e"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","jacket","waistcoat","shirt","trousers","necktie"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-15","recordCreationDate":"2010-11-02","availableToBook":true}}