Item HT 4853 Marionette - Le Forgeron Marionettes, Man in Blue & Black Suit, 1930-1956

Summary

Hand made marionette depicting a man wearing a blue and black suit. 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 man, who is wearing a black satin jacket with blue cuffs, lapels and lining. Underneath this he wears a white shirt which has a paper collar. The man has a black bowtie and a diamante button. His trousers are blue which have a white stripe on the outside of each leg. His feet and ankles have been painted red, with faded black paint shoes. The man's hands, arms, and head have been painted a purple-pink. The paintwork is particularly chipped and discoloured on his face. Much of his hair has disintegrated, although some patches still remain. His clothes are in relatively good condition despite some small holes in the back of his pants. This marionette has a mechanism. There are operating strings attached to numerous parts of him, including his head, limbs and shoulders. The feet have been weighted