{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O155058"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O155058/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY0131/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009BY0131/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009BY0131","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BD7654","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O155058/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O155058","accessionNumber":"S.48-2008","objectType":"Costume design","titles":[{"title":"Wilhelm costume design","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Wilhelm designed many productions for Adeline Genée, star dancer at the Empire Theatre music hall in the 1890s and early 1900s.  Among his last work for her was the ballet <i>The Pretty Prentice</i>, the purpose of which was to show Genée as a mischievous shop girl in as many different moods as possible.  This extraordinary creation which he entitled Eccentric Dress is the ultimate Edwardian dance dress, blending imagination and character.  A fun dress for a fun character.  The stylised feathers on the skirt, to be executed in coloured fabrics, silver and sequins, complement the ostrich feather headdress, while the sequinned bodice with its enveloping snake, contrasts with the silver and rhinestones and the stiff, pleated 'epaulettes' on the shoulders.  The silver pantaloons add a delicious touch of naughtiness, so characteristic of the lost Edwardian period.\r\n\r\nWilhelm worked in the prevailing style of late 19th century realism, but with an imagination and flair and knowledge of his subject that made him outstanding. What makes this design extraordinary is the definition and precision of the drawing, and how Wilhem conveys in paint the final effect of the costume - whether a flower or sparkling sequin snake; he suggests the fabrics, the density of velvet, the sparkle of sequin, the soft floating of silk. It was his knowledge of the techniques of stage costume making, and  how to use materials, that made Wilhelm supreme among stage designers.","physicalDescription":"Full length female figure, wearing fanciful feather costume, daintily holding out the skirt..  On the head to the back different coloured ostrich plumes, fixed to a black headdress with a large upcurving black 'plume' at the centre front, with central multicoloured spine.  Blonde ringlets surround the face.  The bodice of the dress has short slit sleeves and one side in silver, the lower left front black, painted to suggest sequins; outlining this panel , looping round its left side and curving up the left side and down over right shoulder is a rainbow-striped snake, painted to suggest sequins.  From the shoulders extend stiff pleated grey and silver 'epaulettes'.  The calf-length skirt is formed of various coloured stylized feathers, stretching from waist and curving round at the hem, finishing in a mass of black and silver frills.  Beneath the dress are silver pantaloons, finishing at the ankle.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Wilhelm","id":"A4703"},"association":{"text":"costume designer","id":"AAT163428"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"wilhelm","id":"A4703"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"pen and ink","id":"x30618"},{"text":"watercolour","id":"x33202"},{"text":"gouache","id":"AAT70114"},{"text":"silver paint","id":"x30378"},{"text":"art board","id":"x33244"}],"techniques":[{"text":"drawing (image-making)","id":"AAT54196"},{"text":"painting (image-making)","id":"AAT54216"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Pen and ink, watercolour, gouache, silver paint on board","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2009BY0131","2006BD7654"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES356651"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"costume design","id":"AAT163423"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Great Britain","id":"x32019"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1916","earliest":"1916-01-01","latest":"1916-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.1452-1982","id":"O109705"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Given by the British Theatre Museum Association","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"272","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"186","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"Ballet. / \"The Pretty Prentice\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"pen and ink top left hand corner"},{"content":"\"Eccebtruc Dress / Mlel Genée\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"pen and ink top right hand corner"},{"content":"\"C. Wilhelm. / 1916\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"pen and ink lower right hand side"},{"content":"No. 114","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"reverse: pencil encircled in oval"},{"content":"\"Moonstone\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"reverse: pencil top left hand corner"},{"content":"\"759\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"reverse: pencil, encircled, upper centre"}],"objectHistory":"The design was created by Wilhelm for dancer Adeline Genée as Patty in <i>The Pretty Prentice</i>, seen at the London Coliseum in 1916.  It was one of the last productions on which they worked together. Genée gave the design to the British Theatre Museum Association in October 1967.\n\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Costume design by Wilhelm for Adeline Genée as Patty in the ballet <i>The Pretty Prentice</i>, London Coliseum, 1916.  Pen and ink, watercolour, gouache, silver paint.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"16\r\nCostume design for <i>The Pretty Prentice</i>\r\n1916\n\r\nWilhelm, one of the most inventive and prolific late\r\n19th-century costume designers, was famed for his intricate\r\ndrawings and use of colour. Notice the snake\r\ncoiling around the bodice and see how the design\r\nmatches the final costume which is also on display.\n\r\nBallet by William John Charles Pitcher (credited as C. Wilhelm), 1916\r\nLondon Coliseum\n\r\nPaper and ink\r\nDesigned by William John Charles Pitcher working as Wilhelm\r\n(1858–1925)\r\nGiven by the British Theatre Museum Association\r\nMuseum no. S.48-2008\n","date":{"text":"March 2009-September 2013","earliest":"2009-03-01","latest":"2013-09-30"}}],"partNumbers":["S.48-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"48","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"BTMA accession number","id":"THES51752"},"number":"1967/A/55"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN8142","2019LP7455","2019LT6448","2019LW6508"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-08","recordCreationDate":"2008-05-28","availableToBook":true}}