Lot 163
163
L'Entrée Japonaise
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L'Entrée Japonaise

Details
L'Entrée Japonaise
Production: Prèmiere - June 29th, 1954, Granada Festival, Spain; First performed by Fonteyn in London - March 22nd, 1956, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Music: Arthur Sullivan, arrangement R.Irving
Choreography: Frederick Ashton
Designer: Christian Dior
Character: Madame Butterfly

A ballet costume, the tunic of blossom pink organza with a cross-over bodice and cream cotton inset at neckline piped with black and a lilac sash to the waist with scarlet braid detail, the pink organza skirt and sleeves appliquéd with imitation oriental flower decoration, the skirt slashed at the front and sides to reveal lime green pleated net insets, inscribed inside in blue ballpoint pen Butterfly; and an under-tutu, the boned pale pink silk bodice with skirt of citrus yellow stiffened tulle with scalloped edges, the bodice inscribed inside in blue ballpoint pen Japanese Solo; and a headdress comprising twin lotus blossom silk flowerheads either side of two rolls of imitation hair and a pair of hair pins with multi-drop rhinestone and sequin terminals; and two oriental fans; accompanied by a photograph of Fonteyn in Ashton's first production of this solo, Granada Festival, Jardines del Generalife, Granada, June 29th, 1954 -- 3¼x23/8in. (8.3x6cm.) (6)
Literature
MONEY, Keith Fonteyn - The Making Of A Legend, Zurich: William Collins Sons & Co Ltd, 1973, pp. 147 & 315 (illus.) 165
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The first performance of L'Entrée Japonaise, the solo devised by Frederick Ashton, occurred at the Granada Festival, June 29th, 1954, which Ashton visited with a small group of dancers led by Fonteyn and Somes. This costume however appears to date from a Covent Garden Gala two years later.

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