Not currently on display at the V&A

Coachman

Puppet
1981 (made), 1994 (altered)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Marionette of the Coachman, the driver of the coach taking Pinocchio and his friend Candlewick to the Land of Pleasure where the boys are turned into donkeys. This marionette was one of twenty marionettes made by Peter and Frances Grant for their production of Pinocchio,adapted by them from Carlo Collodi's children's story The Adventures of Pinocchio for their touring company The Theatre of Marionettes. The Grants started their company in the 1960s and worked with it all over Britain and Europe.

The bodies of the marionettes were sculpted by Frances Grant from obeche, a tropical type of wood well-known for its lack of splinters or resin, while the faces, hands and feet were sculpted by her using epoxy resin. Peter Grant dressed all the figures, using a wide range of fabrics and techniques for their costumes and their props.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCoachman (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Epoxy resin, limewood, paint, pine, cotton and wool.
Brief description
Marionette of the Coachman. Made by Peter and Frances Grant and used in their puppet play Pinocchio, adapted by them from the children's story The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Given by Peter and Frances Grant.
Physical description
Marionette of the Coachman wearing a white large collared shirt, red waistcoat, tan breeches and socks, black shoes with yellow buckles and an long red hat. He holds a whip. The head and hands are made from painted epoxy resin, the body and legs are limewood. All other limbs are made from pine. The marionette is operated by a wooden control and 8 strings.
Dimensions
  • Height: 21in
Credit line
Given by Peter and Frances Grant
Association
Literary referencePinnochio
Summary
Marionette of the Coachman, the driver of the coach taking Pinocchio and his friend Candlewick to the Land of Pleasure where the boys are turned into donkeys. This marionette was one of twenty marionettes made by Peter and Frances Grant for their production of Pinocchio,adapted by them from Carlo Collodi's children's story The Adventures of Pinocchio for their touring company The Theatre of Marionettes. The Grants started their company in the 1960s and worked with it all over Britain and Europe.

The bodies of the marionettes were sculpted by Frances Grant from obeche, a tropical type of wood well-known for its lack of splinters or resin, while the faces, hands and feet were sculpted by her using epoxy resin. Peter Grant dressed all the figures, using a wide range of fabrics and techniques for their costumes and their props.
Collection
Accession number
S.920-2011

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Record createdMarch 26, 2012
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