{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O61309"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O61309/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MJ1464/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019MJ1464/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019MJ1464","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O61309","accessionNumber":"S.270-1979","objectType":"Ballet shoe","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"Ballet shoe worn by Stanislas Idzikowsky as Harlequin in Mikhail Fokine's ballet <i>Le Carnaval</i>. White kid man's ballet shoe inscribed on inner side \"Stanislaw / Idzikowski / in / remembrances / Carnaval\", size 3 with scored sole.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Kidskin","id":"AAT255987"},{"text":"Leather","id":"AAT11845"},{"text":"Cotton (textile)","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Glueing","id":"AAT53012"},{"text":"Machine stitching","id":"x29587"},{"text":"Hand stitching","id":"x30413"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Kid, leather, cotton and glue","categories":[{"text":"Footwear","id":"THES48951"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2019MJ1464"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES309067"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"ballet shoes","id":"AAT46085"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"early 20th century","earliest":"1900-01-01","latest":"1950-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"30/10/2025","earliest":"2025-10-30","latest":"2025-10-30"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"Stanislaw / Idzikowski / in / (illegible) / Carnaval\"","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"Pen and ink","method":"Handwriting","position":"Inner side","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"Signature","note":"Signature; Inner side; Handwriting; Pen and ink"}],"objectHistory":"One of a collection of signed ballet shoes given to the dance critic and historian Cyril Beaumont. \r\nThe shoe was worn by the Polish dancer Stanislas Idzikowski as Harlequin in Mikhail Fokine's ballet \"Le Carnaval\".  Idzikowsky was probably the most famous interpreter of Harlequin after the role's creator, the legendary Nijinsky, and he performed the role not only with the Diaghilev Ballets Russes, but in later years with the Vic-Wells (now Royal) Ballet.  As the inscription gives no date, it is impossible to say when the shoe was worn.  Although not specific, the shoe was given by Idzikowski to Cyril Beaumont, who he knew well.  \r\nThe soles of ballet shoes were often scored, either by the manufacturer or the dancers, to give improved grip on stage.\r\nThe shoe came to the Museum as part of the Cyril Beaumont Bequest.\n\nHistorical significance: The ballet shoe is the most personal of dance artefacts, as each dancer is responsible for darning and stitching on the ribbons to suit her own personal preferences and each dancer 'wears' out the shoe in a different way, according to her physique and the role.  The dancer darning shoes is a potent image in 20th century dance iconography, a symbol of at once her drudgery and humility.  \r\nA shoe worn by a great dancer in a particular role on a certain night (such as a premiere) and signed, dated, and dedicated to the recipient, implying that the recipient was with the dancer at the time, attains almost iconic significance for balletomanes.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Ballet shoe worn by Stanislas Idzikowsky as Harlequin in Mikhail Fokine's ballet <i>Le Carnaval</i>. First half 20th century. Signed and inscribed.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Idzikowski, Stanislas","id":"N1346"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.270-1979"],"accessionNumberNum":"270","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":1979,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-30","recordCreationDate":"2001-07-20","availableToBook":true}}