Vivien Leighs ivory patch box

This patch box belonged to Vivien Leigh and is now held in the collections at Topsham Museum.

It is made of ivory and gold with a mirror in the lid. The box is inscribed with the words: 'Vivien Leigh Oct.12 1949'.

A patch box is a small box used to hold beauty patches worn on the skin, popular in the 18th century.

Across 1949, Vivien Leigh was performing in Antigone with the Old Vic Theatre Company at the New Theatre and playing the role of Lady Anne in Richard III. In the second half of the year she and Laurence Olivier began work on their London production of A Streetcar Named Desire. The play opened at the Aldwych Theatre on the 11th October 1949, the day before the inscription on the patch box.
Subject Vivien Leigh
Date 2019-06-25
Format Photograph
Type Personal item
Coverage 1940s