Marionette
Edward Hellawell
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1940 - 1982
Materials
Wood and fabric.
Measurements
790 mm (height)
Place of origin
Wolverhampton
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 661565
Summary
One of the puppets made for and used by the ‘Lilliput Marionette Theatre’ (circa 1940 - 1982). This marionette has been identified as 'Ali Ba Ba' and is from a play entitled 'The Lost Princess' or 'Kalif (Caliph) Stork'. It is without a wooden control. His head is made from wood and he has carved and painted feature and both his eyes are open. He has brown coloured head and hands. He wears a large pink fabric turban type hat with a red pointed top and with two green plastic stars. Tufts of raffia stick out of the back. He also wears an earring made of wire with two green plastic beads. He wears a red man-made fabric waistcoat and a green, with orange and red flowers, man-made fabric tunic. He wears green man-made fabric trousers with a layer of chiffon fabric over the top. He has upturned wooden feet which are painted red. He is jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, knees and ankles. His left arm is missing. His body is wood and he has a paunch which is constructed from stuffed fabric. The hands are made from modelling material, which are slightly cracked.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mr E Hellawell in 1982.
Makers and roles
Edward Hellawell, maker Margery Hellawell, costumier