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, plain-woven printed and unprinted cotton; wool fiber; gold paper; thread; and nails
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 23 x 9 x 2 3/8in. (58.4 x 22.9 x 6cm)
ClassificationsEquipment
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
Object number2007.4.1.8
DescriptionMale hand puppet made of a piece of wood that is carved at one end to form a neck and head. A separate piece of wood is glued to the face to form a nose. The neck and head are shellaced, but the covered portions of the wood are left plain. A thin mouth and the outline for eyes were carved out. The pupils and eyebrows are applied with black paint. The lips are colored with pale red paint. White fiberous material forms hair and a beard. The hair is held to the head by two nails at the side of the front and one at the lower back. The beard is held in place by a nail at either end and probably glue. 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 puppet's sleeve by a nail near the shoulder.
Clothing: The puppet wears a coat made of hand-stitched, plain-woven black cotton. The coat is cut straight across the waist, but it is longer and almost V-shaped in the back; a 2 1/2-inch split up the center of the back creates tails. The black fabric is folded under at the neck to form a collar. The front of the coat has a rectangular front placket made of plain-woven light green cotton with a floral print. The green cotton is stitched on all four edges with blue thread. Gold paper forms a V at the top center of the green fabric; two smaller pieces of gold paper are below the V. Gold paper at the center front of the collar may be a tie, gold paper at the waistline forms a belt (now missing the middle section); and gold paper across the proper left shoulder may be an epaulet. Below the coat, a length of plain-woven dark blue printed cotton is nailed to the wood that forms the puppet; this fabric would cover the puppeteer's arm. The fabric is printed with scattered stylized flowers; each tiny flower has three orange petals and a white center. The fabric is stitched up center back and is hemmed across the bottom.
Clothing: The puppet wears a coat made of hand-stitched, plain-woven black cotton. The coat is cut straight across the waist, but it is longer and almost V-shaped in the back; a 2 1/2-inch split up the center of the back creates tails. The black fabric is folded under at the neck to form a collar. The front of the coat has a rectangular front placket made of plain-woven light green cotton with a floral print. The green cotton is stitched on all four edges with blue thread. Gold paper forms a V at the top center of the green fabric; two smaller pieces of gold paper are below the V. Gold paper at the center front of the collar may be a tie, gold paper at the waistline forms a belt (now missing the middle section); and gold paper across the proper left shoulder may be an epaulet. Below the coat, a length of plain-woven dark blue printed cotton is nailed to the wood that forms the puppet; this fabric would cover the puppeteer's arm. The fabric is printed with scattered stylized flowers; each tiny flower has three orange petals and a white center. The fabric is stitched up center back and is hemmed across the bottom.
Status
Not on view
