Summary

Hand made marionette depicting a male pirate playing the accordion. 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 pirate, who is wearing a red and white shirt which is open at the top and has one white button. The sleeves only reach just past his elbows and his shirt is partly open. The pirate has a light green sash around his waist and cream coloured trousers (which are a little short and are very discoloured, particularly at the back where they are green). He has black painted feet with white detailing and painted on red and black striped, knee-length socks. The pirate's black wooden arms hold an accordion which has been nailed to his hands. The accordion is made of wood covered with fabric which has been painted. There are little straps around his hands which have been made from shoelaces. The pirate's face and hair remains largely intact, although there is a little chipping of the paintwork on his right ear. He wears a bright watermelon coloured bandana. The pirate has a mechanism. 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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