Ballet costume
Sonia Fory
Category
Costume
Date
circa 1971
Materials
Cotton, fabric, plastic or cardboard, leather and muslin
Measurements
Mock waistcoat and shirt - 605 mm (length), Leggings and socks - 1260 mm (length), Frock coat - 945 mm (length), Each shoe - 220 mm (length)
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 665597.1
Summary
The costume for Jeremy Fisher from the ballet and/or film of the 'Tales of Beatrix Potter'. It was worn by Michael Coleman of the Royal Ballet. The costume consists of greeny-brown and cream striped leggings fastened at the waist with a tie; cream, machine-knitted, knee length socks attached to the leggings; a faded pink frock coat with a deep collar, two buttons at front and two at the back of the waist - a printed cloth label is attached to the inside back seam of the frock coat reading '437-3821 Sonia Fory 5, Duck Lane W.1 Mr. Graydon' (last line is handwritten in ink); a mock shirt front formed of a white cotton, short-waisted, sleeveless, chemise-type garment with boning around bottom hem; and a mock waistcoat is attached to the front of the chemise-type garment. The waistcoat is made of cotton, white with a pink floral motif. It has six brass coloured buttons and a watch chain fastened across the front to a mock pocket. The mock waistcoat is fastened around the back by a white tape, allowing room for padding underneath. White cotton mock shirt cuffs are attached to the bottom edge of the frock coat sleeve. Gloves are formed of two layers, a fine white muslin top layer and a wadding and latex bottom layer. The latex gives a mottled effect like frog skin. The upper layer of muslin also has a dyed or stained slight mottling. The gloves are attached to the display dummy. The gloves appear to be display items and the socks may also be display additions. The black leather and canvas ballet slippers would be worn on the feet.
Marks and inscriptions
On the sole of each shoe: '4/ V/ [C]/ ANELLO AND DAVIDE/ LA BALARINA/ 9[6 OR 8] CHARING X RO W[C2]'
Makers and roles
Sonia Fory, maker