Puppet
MakerMade by
Phyllis Fenn Cunningham
(American, 1903 - 2003)
Date1950-1979
MediumPapier-mâché, cotton, synthetic, paint, paper, graphite, plastic
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 22 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/2in. (55.9 x 21.6 x 8.9cm)
ClassificationsEquipment
Credit LineGift of Stanhope F. Cunningham
Object number2013.182.6
DescriptionHand puppet of a young Japanese woman named "Setsu" composed of a papier-mâché head with a cloth body and painted paper hands. The head has painted features (probably using watercolor) including pink cheeks, black brows, pink lips, and brown eyes with black synthetic hair that is tied with a gold synthetic bow. She wears a kimono-style robe with wide sleeves. The top is made of a cotton fabric with a blue, green, red, and yellow abstract floral designs trimmed in a dark yellow cotton fabric at the collar and sleeves and tied with a dark yellow cotton sash. The skirt is made of cotton fabric with a red, blue, white, and green botanical design on a dark blue ground. She holds a small doll in the form of a geisha in her right arm. The geisha is dressed in a red synthetic robe patterned with umbrellas, butterflies, and flowers in blue, orange, yellow, green, and pink. Probably used with "Toshi" puppet (2013.182.4) and "The Samurai" puppet (2013.182.5) in play, "The Legend of the Cherry-Tree," written at the request of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it was performed.
Status
Not on view
