Puppet
MakerMade by
Phyllis Fenn Cunningham
American, 1903 - 2003
Date1950-1979
MediumPapier-mâché, synthetic, wood, paint, paper, wire, cotton, ink, sequins
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 25 x 11 x 4in. (63.5 x 27.9 x 10.2cm)
ClassificationsEquipment
Credit LineGift of Stanhope F. Cunningham
DescriptionRod puppet of a Christmas Angel composed of a wooden stick attached to a papier-mâché head. The face has painted features (probably using watercolor) including pink cheeks and lips, blond brows, and blue eyes. She is dressed in a white synthetic robe decorated on front with four gold foil paper stars, on back with two gold foil paper stars, and a gold sequined belt with a multicolored flower at the back and white wings edged in gold foil paper. Her hair is made of yellow synthetic yarn and crowned with a gold sequined halo with a gold foil paper star adhered at the center of her forehead. Her arms are constructed of twisted pink and white pipe cleaners and hold a book made of gold foil paper with a stitched inscription on the front in pink thread that possibly reads "GOOD BOOK." An inscription written in ink in the interior of the book, on left, reads "SAINT NICOLAS / FOR GOOD / BOYS AND GIRLS / I. STAN CUNNINGHAM"; on right, "Good Book." Probably used with St. Nicholas puppet (2013.182.8) in a play, "The Legends of St. Nicholas," written at the request of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it was performed.
Object number2013.182.7
Subject Terms
On View
Not on view
about 1900
