Costume is modelled on a Spanish matador's costume. Its crude make and materials indicate it was made by Guillaume Jandaschewsky. The fine gold work on the breast of the jacket suggests that it could incorporate parts of an authentic matador's jacket. But the use of cheap materials such as plastic and curtain trimming, and incorporation of elecments like the mosque on the back suggest that, like all Jandaschewsky costumes, it is made up of elements drawn from whatever was available. The mosque embroidery would have come from their tour of Turkey in 1893. possibly made while on tour in Europe, Africa, Asia or Australia.

The Spanish bull fight act was an early feature of the Jandaschewskys performance and persisted throughout their careers. At the end of his stage life, Arthur was still performing it with the assistance of his trained dogs.

A persistant feature of the Jandaschewsky performance, in the circus ring and on the vaudeville stage, was the bullfight act. This consisted of a clown dressed as a matador who was charged by a dog dressed as a bull (complete with horns). As the Maryborough Chronicle described it in February 1913, 'The climax is reached when the bulls charge on to the stage mad with lust: the toreadors are put to ignominious rout.' The Jandaschewskys interest in Spanish culture was undoubtedly the result of Arthur's courtship and later marriage of Ysidra Fernandez, a Spanish dancer.
The Jandaschewsky family collection was kept together by the last member of the family to live and work in Australia, Arthur 'Jandy' Jandaschewsky. During the last years of his life 'Jandy' sold the collection to his friend John Anastasiadis. Mr Anastasiadis kept the collection for a 25 year period, having built a repository for housing and exhibiting it at his own home. In 1994 he sold the collection to the MAAS in order to keep it together, and in New South Wales, according to 'Jandy's' wishes.

Costume, matador's winter costume, velvet/cotton/silk/metal/plastic, Guillaume Jandaschewsky, place unknown, 1910-1960.
Matador's winter costume of maroon velvet decorated with metallic embroidery and cotton tasselled braid. Suit consists of bolero jacket, matching breeches and yellow cotton cumberbund. General condition of costume is fragile, with velvet very worn in areas, (inactive) mildew stains on lining and sequins missing.
(-1) Matador's bolero jacket of red maroon velvet, trimmed with yellow gold cotton fringing and tassels, front and back of bodice with heavily embroidered floral and geometic designs in gold and silver metallic sequins, thread and beads on turquoise, cerise, red and green silk panels. Shoulder caps with metallic braid in criss-cross design on orange silk studded with red plastic button-like beads; sleeves with wide panels of metallic sequins on guaze bordered with yellow cotton fringing; fully lined in calico.
(-2) Matador's breeches of red maroon velvet finishing below the knees, gathered at centre back below waistband, lined in calico, button fly fastening with non matching plastic and metal buttons, trimmed down outside leg with panel of metallic sequins on guaze and orange silk and bordered in a tasselled fringe of yellow gold cotton.
(-3) Cumberbund for matador's costume, of yellow gold cotton.

Made: Jandaschewsky, Guillaume; Turkey; 1910 - 1960


Used: Jandaschewsky, Arthur 'Jandy'; Europe

Used: Jandaschewsky, Arthur 'Jandy'; Australia

Used: Jandaschewsky, Arthur 'Jandy'; Asia

Used: Jandaschewsky, Arthur 'Jandy'; Africa

Owned: Jandaschewsky family;

No markers labels. One metal button on fly fastening of breeches stamped: 'DJOE JHIANG LIONG'.

95/28/36

1910 - 1960