{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1661682"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1661682/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB9121/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB9121/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NB9121","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1661682/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1661682","accessionNumber":"S.1099-2021","objectType":"Jacket","titles":[{"title":"Costume worn by Pauline Wales in The Mikado","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The inscription on the cotton tape sewn into the costume shows that this particular costume was worn by the mezzo-soprano Pauline Wales (1937-2020) who joined the company as a chorus member in 1959 and stayed with them until 1975. By 1963 she was playing a mixture of larger and smaller roles, including Pitti-Sing in <i>The Mikado</i>.\n\nThis costume was originally designed by Charles Ricketts (1866-1931) for The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company's new production of <i>The Mikado</i> that opened at the Princes Theatre on  Monday 20th September 1926. Speculation about the new costumes designed generated a  lot of press interest; tickets for the first night sold out months in advance, and the  production was broadcast on the night on the radio live from the theatre by the BBC. Rupert D'Oyly Carte had wanted 'an entirely new aspect' to his new production of the well-loved opera, and Ricketts said of his designs: 'The new dresses I have chosen belong to a period -  about 1720 - when national costume was especially beautiful'. The costumes initially  received a mixture of praise and condemnation but were used by the company until its first closure in 1982.","physicalDescription":"Sleeveless Japanese-inspired costume with green velvet collar and borders with padded cream, green and coral edging at the hem. Fastened with cream cord, the cream ground of the costume stencilled with a blue bird pattern. Lacking maker's label but cream cotton tape sewn in inscribed with the name of the performer 'WALES'","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"L. & H. Nathan Ltd","id":"A12566"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"This costume has no maker's label but the D'Oyly Carte Company regularly used the London-based firm L&H Nathan (later Bermans & Nathans) to make its costumes"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Theatre costume","id":"THES268477"},{"text":"Opera","id":"THES263971"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2021NB9121"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES366772"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"theatre costume","id":"x47007"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"This costume has no maker's label but the D'Oyly Carte Company regularly used the London-based firm L&H Nathan (later Bermans & Nathans) to make its costumes"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1959","earliest":"1954-01-01","latest":"1963-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":"This costume design was in use from 1926 but would have been remade several times during the life of the production which lasted until 1982. The label indicates that it was worn by Pauline Wales who was with the company from 1959 until 1975"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by The D'Oyly Carte Company","dimensions":[{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This costume was made for the D'Oyly Carte Company and remained with them until its donation to the museum in 2020","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Costume worn by Pauline Wales (1937-2020) in D'Oyly Carte Company performances of <i>The Mikado</i> by Gilbert & Sullivan. Originally designed by Charles Ricketts (1866-1931) and probably made by L&H Nathans.\r","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[{"text":"D'Oyly Carte Opera Company","id":"C5944"}],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1099-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"1099","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-02","recordCreationDate":"2021-09-09","availableToBook":true}}