{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1175327"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1175327/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KW2324/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2018KW2324/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2018KW2324","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW2325","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JD5935","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JD5936","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW1503","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW1504","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW1721","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KW1722","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1175327/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1175327","accessionNumber":"S.2769:1 to 3-2010","objectType":"Theatre costume","titles":[{"title":"Costume worn by Henry Irving","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Henry Irving (1838-1905) wore this costume as Iachimo in <i>Cymbeline</i> by William Shakespeare (1564-1616).  The design of the production was overseen by the painter Lawrence Alma Tadema (1836–1912), whose paintings were noted for their historical accuracy.  The play was rarely staged in the nineteenth century and Irving’s production was critically praised for both the acting and the setting.\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\nCrimson silk under-tunic, bodice lined with cream cotton. Lower edge weighted with chain. Fastens at rear with seven self covered buttons. V-shaped neckline and full, short, sleeves, gathered into five pleats at shoulder. Skirt full, with pleats gathered into the dropped waist. \r\nPair of red leather ankle boots with gold braid decoration, lace up front. Front openings edged in blue ribbon. Two slits edged in gold braid on the side of the front of the foot. Brown leather soles. Fasten at ankle with a strap decorated in gold braid and two pink paste jewels, either side of a plain red leather tab","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"},{"text":"braid","id":"AAT232186"}],"techniques":[{"text":"sewing","id":"AAT53658"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre costume","id":"THES268477"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2018KW2324","2018KW2325","2016JD5935","2016JD5936","2018KW1503","2018KW1504","2018KW1721","2018KW1722"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES344369"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES342587"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES342587"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"tunic","id":""}],[{"text":"theatre costume","id":""}],[{"text":"boots","id":"AAT46057"}],[{"text":"boots","id":"AAT46057"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1896","earliest":"1896-01-01","latest":"1896-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by the Royal Shakespeare Company","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"91","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part 1 shoulder to hem (laid flat)","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"40","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Part 1 waist (laid flat)","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Theatrical ensemble of tunic and sandals, worn by Henry Irving as Iachimo in 'Cymbeline', at the Lyceum in 1896.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Holmes, Martin. <i>Stage Costumes and Accessories in the London Museum</i>. London : HMSO, 1968","id":"AUTH357874"},"details":"no.157","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.2769:1-2010","S.2769:2-2010","S.2769:3-2010"],"accessionNumberNum":"2769","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2010,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Museum of London number","id":"THES55722"},"number":"56.4/56a to c"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","tunic","boot [1]","boot [2]"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-05","recordCreationDate":"2010-11-09","availableToBook":true}}