Item HT 4812 Marionette - Le Forgeron Marionettes, Male Town Official, 1930-1956

Summary

Hand made marionette depicting a male town official. 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 male town official, who is wearing a longish navy blue jacket, which is partially lined with a light blue fabric and has four large buttons on each side. Underneath this he wears a pale pink, floral waistcoat with four black and gold buttons down the front. He also wears a cravat with a diamante, and high-waisted blue and white polka dot trousers. His red socks and black shoes have been painted on. His outfit is in good condition. He has particularly ruddy cheeks and a red nose. His skin looks very rough. He has plastic green eyes with black pupil. His hair has largely disintegrated or become detached from his scalp, which has taken much of the paint off also, although, some hair remains on the back of his head. This marionette comes with mechanism. There are operating strings attached to numerous parts of him, including his head, limbs and shoulders. The feet have been weighted.