Collecting Articles and Features

From the Theatre to Your Walls The Value and Collectibility of William John Charles Pitcher ‘s (Wilhelm) Original Costume Drawings

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William John Charles Pitcher (1858-1925) also know as Wilhelm and C. Wilhelm was an acclaimed costume designer of his time, known for his remarkable ability to create elegant and intricate costumes that accurately reflected the time period of the productions he worked on. With over 200 productions to his name, Pitcher was highly respected for his work in the theatre and film industry. In this feature we take a closer look at some of his amazing drawings and watercolours that he created for his costume designs.

William John Charles Pitcher Wilhelm costume design Fan Dancer
Fan dancer. Watercolour and gouache. Signed “Wilhelm” and dated ‘88. This is a particularly highly finished example of his work. Sold for £650 at Bloomsbury Auctions, London, July 2010.

Wilhelm’s Theatre Career

Wilhlem showed early R. Planché recommended him to design costumes for the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1877, where he worked on numerous productions, including the famous pantomimes of Sir Augustus Harris including Aladdin. He also designed costumes for music hall artists and various London theaters such as Her Majesty’s Theatre, The Coliseum, and The Crystal Palace.

He designed two Shakespeare plays for Robert Courtneidge in Manchester, and created costumes for pantomimes Cinderella, Dick Whittington, and Blue Beard. Wilhelm designed costumes for several Gilbert and Sullivan operas, including Iolanthe, Princess Ida, and The Mikado, and also designed costumes for the Olympia, London spectacles Nero and Venice.

William John Charles Pitcher Wilhelm costume design for a character in Aladdin at Drury Lane 1885
William John Charles Pitcher Wilhelm costume design for a character in Aladdin at Drury Lane 1885. Sold for £70 at Kingham & Orme, March 2019.

Wilhelm’s work at the Empire Theatre in London from 1887 to 1915 gained him the most recognition. He designed both scenery and costumes for numerous ballets, many of which starred Adeline Genée, and established a fashion for stage design that was widely imitated.

William John Charles Pitcher Wilhelm costume design for 3 Peasant Men Act 1 dated 1901
William John Charles Pitcher Wilhelm costume design for 3 Peasant Men Act 1 dated 1901. Sold for £100 at John Nicholson, January 2023.

His later works included costume designs for musical comedies such as The New Aladdin, Tom Jones, Peter Pan, The Arcadians, and The Mousmé. His designs were also featured on Broadway in productions like Ruddigore, A Runaway Girl, The Toreador, Three Little Maids, The Babes and the Baron, The Red Mill, The Soul Kiss, The Silver Star, The Arcadians, The Girl in the Train, The Lady of the Slipper, Chin Chin, The Yankee Princess, Stepping Stones, and Madame Pompadour.

William John Charles Pitcher Wilhelm costume design for 40 Thieves
William John Charles Pitcher Wilhelm costume design for 40 Thieves at Drury Lane. Sold for £180 at Kingham & Orme, July 2019.

William John Charles Pitcher’s exceptional talent in creating intricate and detailed costume designs for the theatre resulted in original drawings that were highly sought after and regarded as works of art in their own right. Pitcher’s incredible attention to detail and accuracy in capturing the time period and culture of the productions he worked on, through his use of color, texture, and pattern, brought his designs to life and helped convey the personality and essence of each character.

William John Charles Pitcher Willhelm ballet pictures from Empire Theatre
William John Charles Pitcher Willhelm ballet pictures from Empire Theatre. Six costume designs for ballets at the Empire Theatre, London: Fashion; Butterfly; Mayfly; Canada; Australia; and Russia sold for £2,500 at Christies, March 2016.

These original drawings by Pitcher not only serve as a testament to his creativity, skill, and dedication to his craft but are also highly valued by collectors and art enthusiasts for their historical and cultural significance. Many of Pitcher’s one-of-a-kind drawings were commissioned by theatre companies and producers, and they provide insight into the fashion and design trends of the time period. As a result, original theatre costume drawings by William John Charles Pitcher are considered rare and highly collectible, often commanding significant prices in the art market.

Related
The V&A Collection has a great portfolio of Wilhelm costume designs


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