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 worn in parts (holes, discolouration). The fabric is decorated with black shapes which have been stuck on (stars and circles). The clown has frilly, orange cuffs and a matching frill collar which are all starting to fray. Underneath his outfit, there appears to be a previous outfit made from a green fabric with white polka dots. 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 and are a little bent out of shape. His face is in good condition, although there are some cracks and chips in the paintwork. The hair has been painted on in black but is chipped, revealing brown underneath. He wears a pointy hat made from the same fabric as the frills on his outfit. The small clown has mechanism, which consists of one piece of wood with a plastic handle.

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