{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1661684"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1661684/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB9723/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021NB9723/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021NB9723","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB9722","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021NB9724","copyright":"©Victoria & Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1661684/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1661684","accessionNumber":"S.1101-2021","objectType":"Theatre costume","titles":[{"title":"Kimono worn by Aileen Davies in The Mikado","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The inscription on the maker's label sewn into the costume shows that this particular costume may have been worn by the soprano Aileen Davies (1902-1981) who joined the company as a chorus member in 1923 and was playing principal roles by the 1925-1925 season, and Petti-Sing in <i>The Mikado</i> the following season. She played all the principal mezzo-soprano roles until she left the company in June 1928.\r\n\r\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 radio by the BBC, live from the theatre. Rupert D'Oyly Carte had wanted: 'an entirely new aspect' for his innovative 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.\r\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Floor-length kimono in upper salmon pink section and lower white and turquoise scallop-patterned section, with wide sleeves and padded purple edging around the neck, front opening and hem. The lower section is patterned with maroon and blue shapes. Lined in turquoise and sewn with the maker's label for L&H Nathan, 12 Panton Street, Haymarket, inscribed Davies","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Ricketts, Charles","id":"A5459"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x40048"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"L. & H. Nathan Ltd","id":"A12566"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"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":["2021NB9723","2021NB9722","2021NB9724"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES366772"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"theatre costumes","id":""}],[{"text":"kimonos","id":"AAT46171"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"The maker's label for L&H Nathan, 12, Panton Street, Haymarket is sewn into the costume"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1926","earliest":"1926-01-01","latest":"1926-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"The name Davies inscribed on the maker's label indicates that this could have been worn by Aileen Davies who played Pitti-Sing in the 1926 Princes Theatre production of <i>The Mikado</i> for which the costume was originally designed"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by The D'Oyly Carte Company","dimensions":[],"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":"Kimono possibly worn by Aileen Davies (1902-1981) as Pitti-Sing in D'Oyly Carte Company performances of <i>The Mikado</i> by Gilbert & Sullivan at the Princes Theatre 1926. Designed by Charles Ricketts (1866-1931) and made by L&H Nathans \r\n\r","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.1101-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"1101","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-16","recordCreationDate":"2021-09-09","availableToBook":true}}