Drawing of the Day: A Costume from “The Bell Flower Ballet,” 1890

Costume Design from "Dick Whittington"
Wilhelm, 1890
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Charles William Pitcher (1858-1925), under the name “Wilhelm,” was one of the most prolific English costume designers of the late Nineteenth to early Twentieth Centuries. “Wilhelm” began his career at an early age, designing costumes for pantomimes at the Drury Lane Theatre. His innovative designs quickly caught the eye of Britain’s most notable producers, and “Wilhelm” was soon highly in demand. 

This design by Wilhelm shows his idea for the costumes for the twelve “Lilies of the Valley” featured in the “Bell Flower Ballet,” from the pantomime “Dick Whittington.” The panto was performed at the Crystal Palace on Christmas Eve of 1890.