Theatrical costume
Christine Edzard
Category
Costume
Date
circa 1971
Materials
Cotton, fur, leather, cardboard or plastic, quills, bristle, plush and wool
Measurements
Bodice - 650 mm (length), Skirt - 960 mm (length), Apron - 960 mm (length), Each glove - 290 mm (length), Wristlet - 310 mm (length), Mask - 440 mm (width); 340 mm (height); 395 mm (depth)
Collection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 665609
Summary
A costume for Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle from the ballet and or film of the 'Tales of Beatrix Potter'. The costume was worn by Sir Frederick Ashton of the Royal Ballet. The costume consists of a hedgehog face mask made from thin sheet cardboard or plastic moulded into shape. It is covered with plush and bristle with feather quills stuck into it. It has a black plastic nose and orange plastic eyes. A white cotton mob cap with broderie trim is attached and forms an integral part of the mask. It too is pierced with feather quills. The rest of the costume consists of a pink and white plaid cotton bodice with a white brodie collar. Both the collar and bodice fasten with white cotton tape ties at the back. The bodice is gathered at the back into a mock bustle. A brown wool knitted shawl is draped around the shoulders and attached at the front of the waist. There is a separate orange and yellow striped skirt, with a front opening revealing a white cotton petticoat with pin tucks and deep broderie frill at the hem. Under the skirt is a white net under petticoat with a white cotton frill at the hem. Both the bodice and skirt have holes in them for the quills to stick through. A number of detached quills, presumably from the original costume, have been stuck through the holes in the bodice and skirt into the display dummy underneath. Over the skirt is a white cotton apron tied at the back. The paws are brown leather gloves, with brown real fur backs. The claws have been shaped from the fingers of the gloves. Two wristbands of net with bristles attached are fastened with white cotton tape. Christine Edzard designed the costume, Rostislav Doboujinsky made the mask. Total number of items is 8.
Makers and roles
Christine Edzard, designer