Costume for 'Lady Macbeth' in MACBETH (Beetle wing costume)

Alice Comyns-Carr
National Trust Inventory Number 1118839.1

Category	Costume
Date	1888
Materials	Beetle wings, Cotton, Glass, Lace, Metal, Silk
Measurements
Place of origin	London

Collection	Smallhythe Place, Kent (Accredited Museum)
On show at	Smallhythe Place, Kent, London and South East, National Trust

Ellen Terry wore this “beetle wing” dress for an 1888 performance of 'Macbeth' at the Lyceum Theatre. The dress, designed by Alice Comyns Carr, is adorned with real wings shed naturally by the jewel beetle of Southeast Asia. Carr, who worked closely with Terry on her costumes, wrote that the dress should look “like soft chain armour… [and] give the appearance of the scales of a serpent”.

Summary description

Part of costume (dress) for Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth in 'Macbeth' Lyceum Theatre, 1888. Designed by Alice Comyns Carr and worn for portrait by Singer Sargeant. Green and metallic thread ?knitted mesh adorned with beetlewings. Green silk lined bat-wing sleeves, decorated with metal threads. Cotton lace collar. Jewels at throat. Associated with cloak NT/SMA/TC/114b.

Makers and roles

Alice Comyns-Carr, designer

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Place of origin	London (51427)
Materials	Beetle wings (12) Cotton (26628) Glass (60943) Lace (6056) Metal (170415) Silk (18359)
Category	Costume (30107)
Collection	Smallhythe Place, Kent (Accredited Museum) (9554)
Periods	19th century (171857)
Maker	Alice Comyns-Carr (2)
Subjects	Shakespeare (282)
Object Type	Dress (2702)