Summary

Hand made marionette depicting a small clown. It was manufactured and operated in Melbourne by Alex and Murray Smith, who performed as part of Le Forgeron Marionettes from 1930 until 1956.

Physical Description

Marionette depicting a small clown, who is wearing a loose-fitting, white jumpsuit, which is very worn in parts. The fabric is decorated with black shapes which have been stuck on. The clown has frilly, orange cuffs and a matching frill collar. Underneath his outfit, there appears to be a previous outfit made from a green fabric. He has painted red feet, the felt soles are in good condition. His body has been constructed in a different style to the other marionettes as his limbs are made of rubber. His torso is also unusual, consisting of two oval pieces of wood, which form the shoulders and hips, attached by pieces of rubber. The clown's hands are also made of rubber. He has lost the tip of his nose, but the rest of his face remains largely intact. There is some chipping and cracking of the paintwork. The hair has been painted on. He wears a pointy hat made from the same fabric as the frills on his outfit; it is tenuously attached. The small clown has mechanism, which consists of one piece of wood with a plastic handle. There are operating strings attached to numerous parts of him, including his head, limbs and shoulders. The feet have been weighted.

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