Not on display

Ignorance and Want

Set Piece
1979-1980 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This set piece of Ignorance and Want was one of twenty-three marionettes made by Peter and Frances Grant for their production of A Christmas Carol,adapted by them from Charles Dickens' novel 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
TitleIgnorance and Want (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Epoxy resin, obeche, paint, cotton, jersey
Brief description
Set piece of Ignorance and Want, made by Peter and Frances Grant and used in their puppet play A Christmas Carol, adapted by them from the novel by Charles Dickens. Given by Peter and Frances Grant.
Physical description
Set piece of Ignorance and Want, limbs and body of obeche, face and hands from epoxy resin, painted white. The boy is Ignorance and dressed in grey trousers, jacket and gingham shirt. The girl is Want and dressed in a floral dress and grey shawl. It was used as a set piece and not articulated.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14in
Credit line
Given by Peter and Frances Grant
Association
Literary references
  • A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Summary
This set piece of Ignorance and Want was one of twenty-three marionettes made by Peter and Frances Grant for their production of A Christmas Carol,adapted by them from Charles Dickens' novel 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.930-2011

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 28, 2012
Record URL
Download as: JSON