Wig, theatre costume wig

Blonde and light brown balding wig of human hair with short curls over the ears and around the back of the neck. The hair is hand-stitched/knotted onto a fitted cap of pink silk that is finished with pink silk ribbon to secure seams and hem. Numerous pieces of boning of an unknown material are stitched into the pink silk ribbon casings to aid in the overall fit. A hole at the back of the wig has been patched with a cream cotton on the inside. A maker label in the form of a light brown fabric ribbon is stitched across the interior of the back and is woven with blue thread with the following words, 'W Clarkson Maker 41 & 43 Wardour Street'.

The wig was made by William Berry 'Willy' Clarkson (1861-1934) who was a well-known theatrical costume designer and wigmaker in London. Clarkson's father had been making wigs since 1833 until his son took over the business in 1878, the year this wig was reportedly made. In addition to being highly respected in the theatrical world, Clarkson (the son) was said to have made disguises for Jack the Ripper, Hawley Harvey Crippen, Scotland Yard and Virginia Woolf.

The wig was reported to have been worn by Henry Irving for his role as Louis XI in 1878. This attribution is suspect as Clarkson did not move into the Wardour location until 1905.