Skate Leotard

10 Unusual Items Kept In The Museum Of London

1. Roman Bikini

At a Roman villa in Sicily there is a mosaic which shows a group of young girls wearing what look remarkably like bikinis. In the Museum of London there is the bottom half of the kind of bikini shown in the mosaic. Made out of leather and dating from the first century ad, the trunks,which were found in a Roman well uncovered in Queen Street, were probably worn by a female acrobat.

2. Twelfth-century Ice Skates

Made of bone, they are polished on the undersides where they have been used on the ice. William Fitzstephen, in I 190, wrote of young people who 'equip each of their feet with an animal's shin-bone attaching it to the underside of their footwear; using hand-held poles reinforced with metal tips, which they periodically thrust against the ice, they propel themselves along as swiftly as a bird in flight or a bolt shot from a crossbow'. These skates are ton temporary with his description.

3. Oliver Cromwell's Death Mask

Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector, died on 3 September 1658 and was buried in Westminster Abbey after what the Royalist John Evelyn described as 'the joyfullest funeral that ever I saw for there was none that cried but dogs'. He was not allowed to rest there. When Charles II returned to the throne, Cromwell's body was dug up and given a posthumous execution at Tyburn. The death mask clearly shows a wart over the right eye, one of those Cromwell insisted should be visible when, allegedly, he asked the painter Sir Peter Lely to portray him 'warts and all'.

4.Sermon Glass

The hour glass, from St Alban's church in Wood Street, was designed to allow a preacher to judge how long his sermon should be. When the sand had run through the glass it was time to come to an end unless he was inspired to turn the glass over and continue.

5.Cockfighting Spurs

In December 1762, James Boswell visited the Royal Cockpit in St James's Park and described how 'the cocks, nicely cut and dressed and armed with silver heels, are set down and fight with amazing bitterness and resolution'. The Museum of London has a collection of cockspurs dating from the time when Boswell saw the birds fight and they give some indication of how vicious the sport was. Boswell was 'sorry for the poor cocks' but he admitted that, 'I looked round to see if any of the spectators pitied them when mangled and torn in a most cruel manner, but I could not observe the smallest relenting sign in any countenance'. Cockfighting continued quite openly in London until the 1840s.

6.Queen Victoria's Drawers

The Museum of London has several items of clothing worn by Queen Victoria during her reign, including a bonnet and her accession dress, but it is safe to assume that the one she would have least liked to see on display to the public is the pair of her drawers which the museum owns.

7. Acrobatic Flying Corset

These were worn by the flying dancer Azella in the 1860s. Advertising herself as The Female Leotard', in reference to the famous trapeze artist who gave his name to the leotard, she was a French acrobat who performed in London music halls in the 1860s.

8. Psycho the Automaton

Psycho was an automaton built by the English magician John Nevil Maskelyne in the 1870s to participate in his shows at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly. Psycho picked up playing cards from a rack in front of it and was worked by air pressure and a hidden bellows.

9. Stanley Green's Placards

For several decades until his death in 1993, Stanley Green bicycled from his home in Northolt to Oxford Street, where he walked up and down, carrying banners proclaiming his eccentric beliefs. Green was concerned that over-indulgence in protein-rich foods like meat and dairy products was resulting in a nation of lustful sex- maniacs. 'Less Passion from Less Protein' was his motto and one that appeared on his placards and home-printed pamphlets, examples of which are now preserved in the Museum.

10. Mickey Mouse Gas Mask

Intended to be less sinister and distressing than the standard gas masks, Mickey Mouse gas masks bore little resemblance to Disney's cartoon character but were manufactured in bright, primary colours to encourage small children to wear them. A government advice leaflet confidently proclaimed that, 'Toddlers soon learn to put on their own masks. Let them make a game of it and they will wear their gas masks happily.'

rent apartment london

About the Author

Formerly a practising lawyer, Clara Ros is now a professional travel writer who specializes in cruises, luxury travel and soft adventure trips. Clara Ros has traveled worldwide - five continents, plus. So if you need to rent apartments London, Clara is the right person for advice.

Can I wear a wrap skirt to a figure skating competition?

I have a very pretty figure skating wrap skirt that is dark red with a glittery pattern and has satin ribbon. I would wear it with a black embellished bodysuit/ leotard thing. It's Freeskate 4...

Sounds pretty - it'll be fine for a Freeskate 4 event. Basic Skills events are supposed to be sweet and simple, without elaborate (money-wasting) costuming.

Add a matching red hair ribbon or a satin flower to the top of the bodysuit, just to balance out the colors from top to bottom. Wear skin-tone tights, not too dark or light.

Good luck!

Dstar Skates

Black Leotard Adult Costume $20.99 Includes Leotard. Does not include shoes.

Children's Camisole Leotard (211) $24.51 Camisole leotard with double criss-cross back.

Children's Long Sleeve Leotard $20.95 Long sleeve leotard in 90% cotton, 10% Lycra.

Children's Short Sleeve Leotard $18.95 Short sleeve leotard in 90% cotton, 10% Lycra.

Lily''s Lucky Leotard $18.44 Lily''''s Lucky Leotard is a Capstone Press publication.

Ballet Disney Princess Leotard for Girls $24.5 Ballet Disney Princess Leotard for Girls

Adult's Camisole Leotard (211) $26.95 Camisole leotard with double criss-cross back. Shelf bra lining.

Skate, Robyn, Skate $5.95 Skate, Robyn, Skate

Children's Tank Leotard with Rhinestones $27.9 Tank leotard with princess/empire seamed front. Diamond shaped back treatment with rhinestone studded back straps and shelf bra lining. Tank leotard is made of 90% Cotton and 10% Spandex.

Kids Leotard - Black $9.95 Leotards for everyone! The Black Kids Leotard is the perfect addition to every kid closet. This bodysuit Kids Leotard is perfect for underneath any costume, as you are dressing up as whatever your imagination unfolds. For example, you could decide to be a graceful ballerina, and wear a tutu over this Black Kids Leotard. The possibilities are endless as to what you can create with our Black Kids Leotard. Everyone will wonder where you got such a creative garment for your costume. You'll love it!

Women's Tank Style Leotard $26.97 90$ cotton, 10% lycra. To order this leotard in a chid size, please click here .

Children's Tank Style Leotard $21.34 90$ cotton, 10% lycra. To order this leotard in an adult size, please click here .

Adult's Tank Leotard (206) $31.9 Tank leotard featuring a rhinestone studded ladder back treatment with a shelf bra lining.

Child's Tank Leotard (206) $27.35 Tank leotard featuring a rhinestone studded ladder back treatment with a shelf bra lining.

Adult Camisole Leotard $32.95 Camisole leotard with adjustable strap, special back treatment and shelf bra lining Heavyweight 90% cotton, 10% Lycra

Adult Empire Camisole Leotard $30.95 Camisole leotard with an empire bust line Twisted x back treatment. Shelf bra lined Tactel/Spandex

Children's Camisole Leotard $27.9 Camisole leotard with special back treatment and full front lining Heavyweight 90% cotton, 10% Lycra

Adult Halter Style Leotard $31.9 Halter style leotard with a cross-over front lined bodies, low back and bra lining Tactel/Spandex

Adult Bow Back Leotard $31.9 Pinch front halter leotard Wing back treatment. Shelf bra lined Heavyweight 90% cotton, 10% Lycra

Adult Lattice Back Camisole Leotard $31.9 Camisole leotard with lattice back treatment Heavyweight 90% cotton, 10% Lycra

Children's Camisole Leotard with Standard Back $19.9 Camisole leotard with standard back 90% cotton, 10% Lycra

Velvet Leotard Costume $14.99 The perfect start to a number of Halloween costumes! This child size black leotard can turn into a cat, a ballerina or a spooky witch! Let your imagination

Adult's Tank Leotard (207A) $32.95 Tank leotard with princess/empire seamed front. Diamond shaped back treatment with rhinestone studded back straps and shelf bra lining.

Adult Tank Leotard $24.95 This fully front lined tank leotard features a special back treatment with straps and rhinestones 55% cotton, 35% poly, 10% Lycra

Lycra Tank Leotard $49.99 Evening Of Lace A Must Have! Low Back Lycra Tank Leotard, Lined With Flesh Colored Lycra, Trimmed With Lace Ruffles. Garter Included. Available Sizes: Small-Medium White

Skate or Die $7.99 Skate or Die

Adult Camisole Leotard with V Back $27.9 Camisole leotard with princess seams and a low V back. Shelf bra lining 92% nylon, 8% Lycra