{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O146263"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O146263/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CP2667/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CP2667/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CP2667","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O146263/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O146263","accessionNumber":"S.18-2008","objectType":"Mirror","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This mirror belonged to Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, the eminent late-Victorian actor-manager of Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End.\r\nFrom 1887, Tree was manager of the Haymarket Theatre. He restored the theatre's reputation to high prestige, performing in popular melodramas such as <i>Trilby</i>and producing and starring in new drama including plays by Ibsen and Wilde. He furthermore mounted critically-acclaimed productions of Shakespeare including <i>Hamlet</i>and <i>The Merry Wives of Windsor</i>. His reputation and profit from these productions meant that by 1897, he could help fund construction of Her Majesty's Theatre, which he subsequently managed. It was during his tenure here that he performed all three of the roles pictured on this mirror.\r\n\r\nPainted by Tree as a make-up guide for future performances, the mirror features, clockwise from top, Falstaff from <i>The Merry Wives of Windsor,</i>Fagin from <i>Oliver Twist</i>and Svengali from <i>Trilby.</i> Tree was considered a versatile actor, taking on a number of roles, but criticism of his style focused on his external, superficial approach to character. His performances as tragic characters were mostly overshadowed by other contemporary actors, such as Irving, but in eccentric roles he excelled. The three characters pictured here - Svengali, an evil hypnotist; Fagin, a stereotyped leader of a band of robber children; and Falstaff, a fat, arrogant and cowardly knight - all played to Tree's strengths as an actor, being outlandish and exaggerated.","physicalDescription":"Mirror with wooden frame, painted by Herbert Beerbohm Tree with images of the faces of Falstaff, Fagin and Svengali.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Beerbohm Tree, Herbert","id":"A24103"},"association":{"text":"painters (artists)","id":"AAT25136"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paint","id":"AAT15029"},{"text":"mirror glass","id":"x32916"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"},{"text":"framing","id":"AAT240903"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Paint on mirror","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009CP2667"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"B","id":"THES304960"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"mirror","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 19th century","earliest":"1880-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"painted","id":"AAT54216"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Tony Sympson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"114","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"92","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"includes mount for mirror plates","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given to the British Theatre Museum Association by Tony Sympson","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Make-up mirror from Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree's dressing room, painted by him with images of his make-up as Falstaff, Svengali and Fagin","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Merry Wives of Windsor","Oliver Twist","Trilby"],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree’s make-up \r\n\r\nSir Herbert Beerbohm Tree (1852–1917) was one of the most famous actor-managers of his era. He designed his own character make-ups for Falstaff, Fagin and Svengali and drew them onto this make-up mirror so he could copy them whenever he played the roles. \r\n\r\nThe photograph shows Tree in The Man Who Was. He played two characters in the play, in this instance an escaped Siberian prisoner. [68 words]\r\n\r\nMirror\r\n1880–1900\r\nGlass, greasepaint and wood\r\nGiven by Tony Sympson\r\nMuseum no. S.18-2008\r\n\r\nTree in The Man Who Was \r\n1903\r\nPlay by Rudyard Kipling, 1890\r\nHis Majesty’s Theatre, London\r\nPhotograph\r\nMuseum no. 38041 701005811.1","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["S.18-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"18","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"BTMA accession number","id":"THES51752"},"number":"1964/G/99"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN8096","2019LT6066","2019LU9147","2019LW8851"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-17","recordCreationDate":"2008-02-27","availableToBook":true}}