{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O63067"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O63067/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JG0202/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JG0202/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JG0202","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O63067","accessionNumber":"S.685-2001","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Wooden figure showing Lydia Lopokova","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The figure represents Lydia Lopokova as the First Young Girl in Mikhail Fokine's ballet \"Papillons\", premiered by the Diaghilev Ballets Russes in 1914.  It was probably made by the Aldon Studios for the dance historian, bookseller and publisher, Cyril Beaumont, for sale in his shop at 75, Charing Cross Road.  Lopokova followed Karsavina in the role of the Young Girl, and danced the majority of performances between 1916 and 1920. \n\nBeaumont had admired Caran d'Ache's satirical wood carvings of political  personalities, and, about 1914, he conceived the idea of two-dimensional wooden figures of principal dancers of the Diaghilev Ballets Russes.  The figures represented the dancers in costume in a typical pose from the chosen work; they were cut out from two-ply wood, hand painted and mounted on detachable stands.  Each design was limited to fifty copies, originally hand-coloured by the artist and issued at 7s 6d.  They sold steadily. Adrian Allinson designed nineteen figures in all and after the War, Beaumont turned to other artists and commissioned a separate artist to execute the colouring.  \r\n\r\nS.685-2001 is included in The Complete Catalogue of the Publications of C. W. Beaumont, 1928, which lists 49 figures; examples of 30 of these came to the Museum as part of the Cyril Beaumont Bequest plus 10 not in the 1928 catalogue.\r\n\r\nThe 1928 catalogue included the following description of the cut-outs (p.25): \r\n\"These figures of celebrated dancers of the Diaghileff Ballet have been issued with a view to supply the demand for something between a photograph and a statuette - something that would preserve the memory of a dancer as she appeared in a particular ballet.  Each figure is based on drawings made from sittings given by the dancer herself, and from sketches made during an actual performance.  The designs are by the following artists: Adrian Allinson, Eileen Mayo, Vera Willoughby, also working under the name of Vera Petrovna, Randolph Schwabe and Ethelbert White. The figures, which are of wood, average 8 3/4 inches high, and are hand-coloured with special care to ensure accuracy of costume.  The black stands on which the figures are mounted are easily removable to afford facility in packing.  The figures are priced at 7s. 6d. net.\"\n\nThe existence of such figures are a testimony to the popularity of the Diaghilev Ballets Russes in London, and a growing 'popular' audience who demanded memorabilia and souvenirs.  As the only specialist bookseller and publisher in London, and with access to the dancers and company, Beaumont was quick to identify the market and he commissioned the figures, prints and illustrated books to fulfil the demand.","physicalDescription":"Full length two-dimensional plywood cut-out female figure, standing on left point, the right leg raised at right angle to the back, her arms bent at shoulder height and head turned to back, wearing a frilled crinoline-style dress in pale olive bistre, open at front to reveal off white underskirts with the frills and details delineated in pale grey.  Fixed to the back of the dress are wings.  The brown hair is bound with a narrow green headband. The painting continues around the sides and the reverse is painted black.  The foot support is a continuation of the supporting point shoe.  Wood and gouache.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"C. W. Beaumont & Co","id":"A5770"},"association":{"text":"Publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Aldon Studios","id":"A5769"},"association":{"text":"Maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"Probably"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"Gouache","id":"AAT70114"}],"techniques":[{"text":"Painting","id":"x30598"},{"text":"Cut-out","id":"x34776"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"plywood and gouache","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Dance","id":"THES252984"},{"text":"Figures","id":"THES274372"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2016JG0202"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES355418"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"figures (representations)","id":"AAT189808"}],[{"text":"cutouts","id":"AAT257411"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Europe","id":"x28842"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1920s","earliest":"1920-01-01","latest":"1929-12-31"},"association":{"text":"Made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"211","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"diagonal hair to base support","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"146","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"skirt edge to right foot","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"S.685-2001 is included in The Complete Catalogue of the Publications of C. W. Beaumont, 1928, which lists 49 figures; examples of 30 of these came to the Museum as part of the Cyril Beaumont Bequest plus 10 not in the 1928 catalogue.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Plywood souvenir figure representing Lydia Lopokova as The First Young Girl in Mikhail Fokine's ballet <i>Papillons</i>, issued by C W Beaumont, 1920s.  Wood and gouache.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Beaumont, Cyril, A Bookseller at the Ballet, C. W. Beaumont, London, 1975."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"The Complete Catalogue of the Publications of C. W. Beaumont, C. W. Beaumont, London, 1928"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Limited edition","id":"THES48862"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Lopokova, Lydia","id":"N1231"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.685-2001"],"accessionNumberNum":"685","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2001,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-20","recordCreationDate":"2001-11-03","availableToBook":true}}