Hand Puppet
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Albert G. Walker
(American, 1836 - 1902)
MakerMade by
Albert G. Walker
(American, 1836 - 1902)
Date1858
MediumCarved and painted wood, hand-stitched, twill-woven cotton and wool; black velvet; wool fiber; gold paper; thread; and nails
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 28 1/2 x 5 x 2 1/4in. (72.4 x 12.7 x 5.7cm)
ClassificationsEquipment
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
Object number2007.4.1.6
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. A downward-curving moustache is also applied with black paint. Off-white fiberous material that forms hair is glued nailed 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 with a nail.
Clothing: The puppet wears a soldier's uniform. His hat is made of black velvet fabric, with a red fold of fabric stitched to the pointed top. The front of the hat also has a piece of red fabric stitched over it with white and black thread; the center of this red fabric has a half circle of gold paper glued on. The hat is held on with two nails at the side of the face and three more across the back. The puppet wears a blue tie with white polka dots around his neck. The uniform coat is red twill-woven cotton, cut with long tails on the back. The sleeve for the proper left arm is a separate piece stitched on with black thread. Black velvet stripes on the coat criss-cross once in front and once in back; a second black stripe runs around the waistline. The stripes are stitched and nailed in place. The coat has gold paper around the neckline. Gold paper also forms an epaulet on the proper left shoulder, and three buttons down the front (a fourth gold button is missing.) Below the coat is off-white twill-woven cotton stitched up the front; this fabric would cover the puppeteer's arm. The unfinished ends of all the fabrics are fraying.
Clothing: The puppet wears a soldier's uniform. His hat is made of black velvet fabric, with a red fold of fabric stitched to the pointed top. The front of the hat also has a piece of red fabric stitched over it with white and black thread; the center of this red fabric has a half circle of gold paper glued on. The hat is held on with two nails at the side of the face and three more across the back. The puppet wears a blue tie with white polka dots around his neck. The uniform coat is red twill-woven cotton, cut with long tails on the back. The sleeve for the proper left arm is a separate piece stitched on with black thread. Black velvet stripes on the coat criss-cross once in front and once in back; a second black stripe runs around the waistline. The stripes are stitched and nailed in place. The coat has gold paper around the neckline. Gold paper also forms an epaulet on the proper left shoulder, and three buttons down the front (a fourth gold button is missing.) Below the coat is off-white twill-woven cotton stitched up the front; this fabric would cover the puppeteer's arm. The unfinished ends of all the fabrics are fraying.
Status
Not on view
