Lot #51Jascha Heifetz's performance clothing: The two-piece woolen tails; jacket with satin lapels and lining; the formal trousers with satin striping. Crafted by Degez of Fifth Avenue in New York with a personalized label completed in manuscript "Jascha Heifetz" and "6/29/1950. No.12594". Both presented on a hand-painted and varnished wooden hanger with "Jascha Heifetz" painted-on in cyrillic lettering.

Description:

Jascha Heifetz's performance clothing: The two-piece woolen tails; jacket with satin lapels and lining; the formal trousers with satin striping. Crafted by Degez of Fifth Avenue in New York with a personalized label completed in manuscript "Jascha Heifetz" and "6/29/1950. No.12594". Both presented on a hand-painted and varnished wooden hanger with "Jascha Heifetz" painted-on in cyrillic lettering.

Heifetz wore this suit at every important performance for the rest of his career, until his forced retirement (through accident) in the early 1960s and can be seen in numerous photographs. A remarkable survivor of a remarkable career. A photograph of him in the suit accompanies the lot.

Heifetz was very aware of his stage presence, exercising every morning to make sure his posture was good, demanding the most flattering performance clothing he could have made; this set of "Tails" was his favourite for the last 25 years of his career.