Ivy Shilling in portraits

This series of photographs of Australian dancing sensation (and surfer) Ivy Shilling follows on from the main blog as a means of showing some of the other lovely photographs that appeared i the illustrated press at the time. If you missed the main blog you can have a read here.

Ivy Sketch
Ivy photographed by Elwin Neame for ‘The Tatler’, 20 December 1916. The caption describes her as ‘one of the most vivacious musical-comedy actresses in London at the moment and a graceful dancer.’

Ivy in her character from 'Topsy Turvey' in the society magazine 'The Sketch', 5 September 1917, photographed by Malcolm Arbuthnot. Ivy's dance was described as 'weird, passionate and highly dramatic.'
Ivy in her character from ‘Topsy Turvey’ in the society magazine ‘The Sketch’, 5 September 1917, photographed by Malcolm Arbuthnot. Ivy’s dance was described as ‘weird, passionate and highly dramatic.’
Ivy photographed by Foulsham & Banfield for 'The Sketch', 4 September 1918
Ivy photographed by Foulsham & Banfield for ‘The Sketch’, 4 September 1918
Ivy Shilling Bassano
Ivy as she appeared in ‘Shangahi’ photographed by Bassano Ltd, published in ‘The Sketch, 18 September 1918
Shilling - Tatler - 30.4.19, p.119 - in The lilac Domino by Wilding
A full-page spread on Ivy in ‘The Tatler’, 20 April 1919 with portraits by noted photographer Dorothy Wilding

By the end of the 1910s Ivy was such a popular celebrity that people even wanted  to know what her feet looked like! And here they are:

The original caption in 'The Sketch' in June 1919 read: 'Feats of the unaided feet...for toe-dancing, it will be noted, she can disdain the use of toe-caps...' Feet photographed by Malcolm Arbuthnot.
The original caption in ‘The Sketch’ in June 1919 read: ‘Feats of the unaided feet…for toe-dancing, it will be noted, she can disdain the use of toe-caps…’ Feet photographed by Malcolm Arbuthnot.

6 thoughts on “Ivy Shilling in portraits”

  1. Fascinating material and photos of what is my 1st cousin twice removed. Thanks for all the research which has certainly given me many details about this intriguing member of my family.

  2. I am also researching Ivy and your posts are fascinating. I am so pleased to find your blog and I will definitely put it on my list at Edwardian Vignettes.

    1. Hi Lisa
      I believe I am a distant relative of Ivy’s from the family research I have done …
      I’m trying to find out if she ever had children?
      Jenny

      1. Hi Jenny
        I have been researching the life and career of Melbourne born dancer Ivy Shilling (changed from the original Schilling) for some years. To the best of my knowledge she did not have any children.

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