Token, London, 1868
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1868
Token in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number S.530-1985), made in London, dated 1868. The museum's brief description reads: Royal Italian Opera Covent Garden token. Museum description: Oval shaped ivory token, engraved with information about the Royal Italian Opera & subscriber on both sides, with small hole with blue ribbon tied through. The museum records it as Engraved ivory, with manuscript and tied ribbon, measuring Height 5 cm; Width 5.5 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This token was a means of identification for a subscriber to a box. Subscription by season was a dependable source of income for theatres, and was also influential in a theatre’s status and earning power, as only those in wealthy and important positions could afford it. The token is inscribed with the name of the theatre: The Royal Italian Opera, later the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. When the first building on the site was opened by John Rich in 1732, the theatre was named the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, and presented only spoken word drama, having been granted this patent by Charles II. The only other theatre in London allowed to perform spoken drama was the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Ballet was first presented at the theatre in 1734, and the first season of opera in 1735, with a performance of Handel’s work. This building was destroyed by fire, however, in 1808 and was rebuilt and re-opened in 1809. In 1846 Michael Costa, then conductor at Her Majesty’s Theatre, got into dispute with the management and transferred his allegiance, and opera and dance company, to Covent Garden. Following a remodelling of the auditorium, the theatre was thus reopened in 1847 as the Royal Italian Opera, by which name it would be known until 1892. It became simply the Royal Opera House, dropping the ‘Italian’ from its title as it performed more French and German compositions.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- ivory, ribbon, ink
- Dimensions
- Height 5 cm; Width 5.5 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Engraved ivory, with manuscript and tied ribbon
- Place recorded
- London
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA / Hon. F. Calthorpe / COVENT GARDEN; 1868 / EVERY NIGHT / BOX 1&2 / 7; E. Hall
Identification
- Museum object name
- Token
- Museum object number
- S.530-1985
- Museum system number
- O187693
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.