Some of the very few surviving pieces of clothing belonging to Charles Dickens will go on show later this week in a new display at the Charles Dickens Museum in London.
Among the items on show from March 11 is a linen shirt collar, recently acquired by the Museum and reputedly the last Dickens ever wore, when he suffered a stroke while sitting for dinner at home at Gad’s Hill Place on June 8, 1870. He died the following day. After his death, the collar was owned by actor and music hall performer Bransby Williams who was known for his portrayals of characters from Dickens's novels.
Also on display will be a pair of black silk stockings, part of the only known suit worn by Dickens to survive. Dickens wore the stockings, along with dark jacket, trousers and white waistcoat, as well as a sword, to a formal reception at St James’s Palace on April 6, 1870, at which Dickens met Edward, Prince of Wales. Dickens described the suit as 'Fancy Dress'.
While only a few items of his clothing survive, a wealth of written material paints a picture of Dickens as a snappily dressed, flamboyant man of his times. This image is strongly supported by a colorised photographic portrait of Dickens which will join the new display. Originally made by George Herbert Watkins in June 1858 and restored and colourised in 2020 by Oliver Clyde, it shows Dickens standing at a desk, right hand on hip, in an eye-catching ensemble, finished with gleaming gold watch and chain.
This outfit matches descriptions of clothes he wore on his 1842 American tour. Elizabeth Wormeley, who met Dickens in Boston, later described his ‘conspicuous’ dress, which included "two velvet waistcoats, one of vivid green, the other brilliant crimson" which were "further ornamented by a profusion of gold watch-chain".
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Charles Dickens Museum
Dickens's final shirt collar
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Charles Dickens Museum
Six silver razors with ivory handles
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Charles Dickens Museum
Charles Dickens by WIlliam P Frith. 1886
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Charles Dickens Museum
Locket containing locks of hair of Charles and Henry Dickens
“Among all of the many qualities, passions and character quirks of Charles Dickens, we know that he was a real dandy," said Emma Harper, Deputy Director at the Charles Dickens Museum. "This makes it all the more frustrating that so few items of his clothing survive and but renders our collection of clothing and accessories especially precious. When paired with the many eyewitness reports of his flamboyance, those items that do remain can give us a real insight into his snappy style.”
A second portrait, by William P. Frith, shows Dickens sporting a velvet jacket, which he had made especially for the occasion.
Other highlights of the exhibition include several personal items belonging to Dickens such as a set of six silver razors with ivory handles used for his daily shave, a perfume bottle, silver candle snuffers, and a gold locket containing photos and locks of hair from Charles Dickens and his son Henry Fielding Dickens.
