Hand Puppet
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Albert G. Walker
(American, 1836 - 1902)
MakerMade by
Albert G. Walker
(American, 1836 - 1902)
Date1855-1870
MediumCarved and painted wood; hand-stitched plain-woven cotton; wool fiber; gold paper; thread; and nails
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 23 1/8 x 5 1/4 x 2 1/4in. (58.7 x 13.3 x 5.7cm)
ClassificationsEquipment
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
Object number2007.4.1.1
DescriptionMale hand puppet made of a piece of wood that is carved at one end to form a neck and head. The neck and head are shellaced, but the covered portions are left plain. A separate piece of wood is glued to the face to form a nose. A mouth and the outline for eyes were carved out. The pupils and eyebrows are applied with black paint. Brown and blond fiberous material that forms hair is nailed on at four points around the head. Another small piece of wood forms the puppet's proper left arm; the end is carved to form a closed hand. The arm is not physically attached to the wood that makes the main body of the puppet; it is held into the sleeve of the puppet's coat/shirt with three nails.
Clothing: The puppet wears a hat made of black velvet that is only partially stitched closed at the top. The lower edge of the hat is adorned with a stripe of gold paper, but much of the paper is torn off and missing. The puppet's coat/shirt is black fabric with a purple button placket running down the front. The placket is stitched on either side with blue thread to hold it on to the black fabric. Four diamond-shaped pieces of gold paper on the placket form the buttons. A gold triangle is affixed to the top of the proper right breast and the proper left shoulder. The proper left sleeve (there is no right arm or sleeve) is made of a separate piece of olive colored fabric that is nailed and stitched to the puppet; an extension of the sleeve is the same black fabric as the rest of the coat/shirt. The back of the coat/shirt has a split in the lower middle to give the shirt tails. Below the coat, the remainder of the puppet is made of olive colored fabric with a dark green foliate print. This material would cover the puppeteer's arm. All of the stitching is done by hand, and none of the edges are finished.
Clothing: The puppet wears a hat made of black velvet that is only partially stitched closed at the top. The lower edge of the hat is adorned with a stripe of gold paper, but much of the paper is torn off and missing. The puppet's coat/shirt is black fabric with a purple button placket running down the front. The placket is stitched on either side with blue thread to hold it on to the black fabric. Four diamond-shaped pieces of gold paper on the placket form the buttons. A gold triangle is affixed to the top of the proper right breast and the proper left shoulder. The proper left sleeve (there is no right arm or sleeve) is made of a separate piece of olive colored fabric that is nailed and stitched to the puppet; an extension of the sleeve is the same black fabric as the rest of the coat/shirt. The back of the coat/shirt has a split in the lower middle to give the shirt tails. Below the coat, the remainder of the puppet is made of olive colored fabric with a dark green foliate print. This material would cover the puppeteer's arm. All of the stitching is done by hand, and none of the edges are finished.
Status
Not on view
