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Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 1
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 2
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 3
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 4
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 5
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 6
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 7
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 8
Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978) Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942 (the largest) unframed ((8)) image 9
The Roy Astley Collection: Theatrical Designs by Cecil Beaton and Oliver Messel
Lot 57AR

Oliver Messel
(British, 1904-1978)
Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942
(the largest) unframed

20 May – 3 June 2025, 12:00 BST
Online, London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £1,920 inc. premium

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Oliver Messel (British, 1904-1978)

Eight costume designs for Comus, New Theatre, 1942
To include: two designs for 'The Rout'; one for 'Sabrina'; one for 'The Brother', etc.
seven variously signed 'Oliver Messel', all with further inscriptions
variously watercolour, gouache and pencil
56 x 38cm (22 1/16 x 14 15/16in). (the largest)
unframed
(8)

Footnotes

Comus is traditionally a Masque in one act after Milton, however the present production was choreographed as a ballet by Robert Helpmann and starred Margot Fonteyn and Robert Helpmann in the principal roles.

It is here that Messel is first credited with working with the mask and headdress maker Hugh Skillen, a relationship that would extend far beyond this production and earn both a reputation for their stylistic ingenuity in headwear for the stage.

Additional information

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