Claire Tole-Moir
Head of Department
Lot 29AR
Ronald Cobb (British, 1907-1977): Two original costume designs for Murray's Cabaret Club showgirls from 'Spring Rain No.'
c.1962, 2
11 – 25 June 2020, 12:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £637.50 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Popular Culture specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Ronald Cobb (British, 1907-1977): Two original costume designs for Murray's Cabaret Club showgirls from 'Spring Rain No.'
c.1962,
the hand-painted pencil, watercolour and gouache costume designs featuring showgirl 'Marie' in a white bodice, pink skirt embellished with roses and black ribbons, matching hat, and pink umbrella, annotated in pencil Rag Time Medley "Everybody's Doing It", 2 Girls, Spring Rain No. by the artist, also affixed with a small study in ink showing a side view of her hat; together with another showgirl depicted nude, holding a prop mirror decorated with clouds and rainbows, also annotated in pencil Spring Rain No. Nude by the artist, both unsigned, both mounted, framed and glazed, first: 6 1/2in x 16 1/2in (16.5cm x 42cm), second; 7 1/2in x 16 3/4in (19cm x 42.5cm) (2)
the hand-painted pencil, watercolour and gouache costume designs featuring showgirl 'Marie' in a white bodice, pink skirt embellished with roses and black ribbons, matching hat, and pink umbrella, annotated in pencil Rag Time Medley "Everybody's Doing It", 2 Girls, Spring Rain No. by the artist, also affixed with a small study in ink showing a side view of her hat; together with another showgirl depicted nude, holding a prop mirror decorated with clouds and rainbows, also annotated in pencil Spring Rain No. Nude by the artist, both unsigned, both mounted, framed and glazed, first: 6 1/2in x 16 1/2in (16.5cm x 42cm), second; 7 1/2in x 16 3/4in (19cm x 42.5cm) (2)
Footnotes
This floorshow, based on the seasons of the year and performed from 1962 onwards, was likely the last for which Cobb designed. Only his sketches for the first number 'April Shows' exist. This number was particularly successful because of its special effects - at one point, hundreds of bubbles imitating rain cascaded down from the ceiling.
Exhibitions:
The Museum of Soho, London, 22nd March - 7th April 2018.
Green & Stone of Chelsea, London, 4th-16th July 2019.
Literature:
Levy, Benjamin, 'Murray's Cabaret Club: Discovering Soho's Secret', (The History Press), 2019.
For more information: www.murraysclubarchive.com