Marionette
Category
Toys
Date
Unknown
Materials
Wood, metal, modelling material and nylon fishing line
Measurements
300 mm (height); 210 mm (diameter)
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 661603
Summary
One of the puppets made for and used by the ‘Lilliput Marionette Theatre’. This marionette has been identified as a 'mushroom' or ‘toadstool’ and is from a play entitled 'Hansel and Gretel'. The puppet toadstool has its control. This is made mainly of modelling material. The top of the toadstool is painted red with white spots. The underside is grooved and painted grey. There is a large hole in the centre of the underside from which hangs the hollow white painted stalk. This is carved to form a smiling face with slanting eyes and red painted lips. A metal framed modelling material body hangs freely within the stalk. This has two legs with brown painted feet attached to it. These legs are jointed at hip, knee and ankle. The toadstool is attached to the simple wooden control with nylon fishing line. There are two large cracks in the red and white top.
Provenance
Donated to the Museum of Childhood by Mr E Hellawell in 1982.