{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O139854"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O139854/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011FB5137/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011FB5137/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011FB5137","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O139854/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O139854","accessionNumber":"S.159-2007","objectType":"Costume design","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This costume design by Wilhelm features a typical 'ballet-length skirt' and would have been intended for a dancer in the ballet <i>Old China and New Japan</i> which was produced at the Oxford Theatre in 1885. Female skirts were floor-length on the street at this date, and knee-length skirts were considered far more daring but ncessary for dancers for freedom of movement.\r\n\r\nWilhelm (William Charles Pitcher RI, 1858-1925) was one of the most inventive and prolific late 19th century costume designers whose early passion for stage spectacle led to his employment designing pantomime costumes for Drury Lane Theatre.  His attention to detail and ability to create visually stunning and decorative costumes were aspects of his work that appealed to producers and public alike, and led to his constant stream of work throughout his life.  He was a well known illustrator of children's books as well as a costume designer, but it was his detailed and superbly decorative designs for the Empire Theatre ballet costumes from 1908 to 1915, led to an obituary writer noting: 'The name C. Wilhelm should be written in gold on the history of ballet'.","physicalDescription":"Costume design in watercolour and gouache on card for a female dancer in the ballet 'Old China and New Japan', Oxford Theatre, 1885.  She is standing towards the viewer, her hands  together in front of her, her eyes downcast. her head inclined to the left.  She is wearing a small upturned pink hat trimmed with pink flowers, a pink laced jacket with peplum and lace-edged sleeves, a white fichu with a pink rose at her breast, and a white satin (possibly) knee-length skirt, patterned with pink flowers. Signed and dated 1885.  Watercolour, gouache, pen & ink on paper. Signed and dated in black ink ‘WILHELM 81’; inscribed in black ink in the top left-hand corner ‘Old China'.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Wilhelm","id":"A4703"},"association":{"text":"Costume designer","id":"AAT163428"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Watercolour","id":"x33202"},{"text":"Ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"Paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"Pencil","id":"x30347"},{"text":"Card","id":"x30344"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Painted, Drawn","id":"x30769"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Watercolour, gouache, pen & ink on card","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"},{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2011FB5137"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES356686"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"costume design","id":"AAT163423"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"painted, drawn","id":"x30769"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1885","earliest":"1885-01-01","latest":"1885-12-31"},"association":{"text":"Painted, Drawn","id":"x30769"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Brian Peters","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"20.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"' Wilhelm 81 '","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"Ink","method":"Handwriting","position":"Lower right hand side of the design.","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Signature; date","note":"Signature and date in black ink, lowerright."},{"content":"'Covent Garden'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Name of the theatre in red ink, top left"},{"content":"'Peasants'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Identification of characters to wear the costumes, in red ink, top right."},{"content":"'Old China'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"In black ink, top left-hand corner."},{"content":"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":" ","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"This costume design by Wilhelm is one of three designs by Wilhelm given to the Theatre Collections by Brian Peters in 2004. The design was executed for a production of <i>Old China and New Japan</i>, Oxford Theatre 1881\n\nHistorical significance: Wilhelm (William Charles Pitcher RI, 1858-1925) was one of the most inventive and prolific late 19th century costume designers whose early passion for stage spectacle led to his employment designing pantomime costumes for Drury Lane Theatre.  His attention to detail and ability to create visually stunning and decorative costumes were aspects of his work that appealed to producers and public alike, and led to his constant stream of work throughout his life.  He was a well known illustrator of children's books as well as a costume designer, but it was his detailed and superbly decorative designs for the Empire Theatre ballet costumes from 1908 to 1915, led to an obituary writer noting: 'The name C. Wilhelm should be written in gold on the history of ballet'.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Costume design by Wilhelm for a female dancer in <i>Old China and New Japan</i>, Oxford Theatre, 1881. Watercolour, gouache, pen and ink. Given by Brian Peters.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.159-2007"],"accessionNumberNum":"159","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2007,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-08","recordCreationDate":"2007-10-05","availableToBook":true}}