On View
Taking the Stage Gallery
Exhibition
Taking the Stage
Designed by
Holder, Geoffrey, Trinidadian American, 1930 - 2014
Created by
Nihda, Fred, 1931 - 1997
Worn by
Haynes, Tiger, American, 1914 - 1994
Subject of
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1975
Medium
reinforced plastic, paint, metal, leather, cord, tape, and glue
Dimensions
H x W x D: 37 1/2 × 8 3/4 × 9 in. (95.3 × 22.2 × 22.9 cm)
Description
This right leg armor is part of a costume worn by Tiger Haynes as Tin Man in "The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical 'Wizard of Oz'" on Broadway. The object consists of a cuisse that covers the thigh portion of the leg and a greave that covers the shin of the leg. Both the cuisse and the greave are made from reinforced plastic formed into graduated half cylinders to fit around the leg.
Each piece has a metal hinge on the inside of the leg so that it can be opened and be placed around the leg. Both pieces secure on the outside of the leg with two (2) leather straps and metal buckles. The cuisse also has three (3) sets of metal snap closures. Two (2) leather straps are screwed to the bottom of the back side of the cuisse and to the top of the back side of the greave to connect the pieces together. There is one (1) additional leather strap with a metal buckle screwed to the cuisse at the top edge of the center front side. The borders of each piece are edged in cloth tape except the top of the cuisse, which is edged in leather. The cuisse is painted all over with brass metallic paint, with a trompe l'oeil detail of a beer can logo on the front side in white, red, and green paint reading "Miller / HIGH LIFE / The Champagne of Beers". The greave is decorated with three (3) sets of applied cord glued horizontally across the section in double ridges, and it is painted all over with silver metallic paint.
The interiors of both pieces are finished with silver metallic paint. The interior front side of the cuisse has past repairs or stabilization using large pieces of tape and heavy glue.
Place used
New York City, Manhattan, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing-Costume
Type
closed greaves
cuisses
Topic
Actors
Clothing and dress
Costume
Costume design
Design
Men
Musical Theatre
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Object number
2007.3.7.1.5
Restrictions & Rights
Unknown - Restrictions Possible
Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5be85594e-a4c8-44cc-b62c-a8c19bb31cda

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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