Glove Puppet
1937 (made), 1994 (altered)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This Punch is one of a set of figures used in his Punch and Judy show by Arthur William Ford (1901-1974), known professionally as 'Professor' Gordon Bavister. The figures were bought in 1937 and are mostly made by the master puppet maker Arthur Quisto (1882-1960).
Mr Punch was first recorded in England in 1662 by the famous diarist Samuel Pepys when he saw him as a marionette, operated in Covent Garden by the Italian puppet showman Signor Bologna. Pulchinella, as he was then called, was presented within a tent rather than in the type of booth we know today. Pepys brought his wife to see the show two weeks later and that October the same show was performed at Whitehall for the King.
Mr Punch has had his cone-shaped hat for a long time. A 17th-century ballad referred to his conical hat, his amorous character, and to someone who: 'kissed like Punchinello or a sucking pig.' He has also had his characteristically squeaky voice for hundreds of years, and directions for a 17th-century play note that a character should 'speak in Punchinello's voice'. An account of a performance by Punch and the Devil in 1699 noted that their dialogue was: 'conveyed to the ears of the listening rabble through a tin squeaker, which was thought by some of 'em as a great piece of conjuration as was ever performed by Dr. Faustus'. This is a reference to the Italian 'pivetta' which contemporary Punchmen call a 'swazzle'.
Mr Punch was first recorded in England in 1662 by the famous diarist Samuel Pepys when he saw him as a marionette, operated in Covent Garden by the Italian puppet showman Signor Bologna. Pulchinella, as he was then called, was presented within a tent rather than in the type of booth we know today. Pepys brought his wife to see the show two weeks later and that October the same show was performed at Whitehall for the King.
Mr Punch has had his cone-shaped hat for a long time. A 17th-century ballad referred to his conical hat, his amorous character, and to someone who: 'kissed like Punchinello or a sucking pig.' He has also had his characteristically squeaky voice for hundreds of years, and directions for a 17th-century play note that a character should 'speak in Punchinello's voice'. An account of a performance by Punch and the Devil in 1699 noted that their dialogue was: 'conveyed to the ears of the listening rabble through a tin squeaker, which was thought by some of 'em as a great piece of conjuration as was ever performed by Dr. Faustus'. This is a reference to the Italian 'pivetta' which contemporary Punchmen call a 'swazzle'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and painted wood with sewn fabric and pressed glass. |
| Brief description | Glove puppet of Mr. Punch used from 1937 onwards by Arthur William Ford (1901-1974) known as Professor Gordon Bavister who scripted and operated a Punch and Judy show. Made by Arthur Quisto (1882-1960). |
| Physical description | Glove puppet of Mr. Punch with a painted, carved wooden face with blue glass eyes, wearing a conical hat, tunic and breeches made from orange woollen fabric. His carved legs are painted yellow, with painted orange shoes. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Donated by Michael De La Ford in memory of his father Arthur William Ford (1901-1974) who as 'Professor' Gordon Bavister scripted and operated his Punch and Judy show from 1937 onwards. |
| Object history | This is one of a set of Punch & Judy figures donated by the son of the Punchman 'Professor' Gordon Bavister (1901-1974), along with the script of the show and the booth. All the figures were bought by his father in 1937 and were made by Arthur Quisto, except the Boxers and the Ghost, which were added later. The puppet booth is complete with its blue velvet curtains, a painted backdrop, the facade of Punch's house, other properties and two swazzles. |
| Associations | |
| Literary reference | Punch and Judy |
| Summary | This Punch is one of a set of figures used in his Punch and Judy show by Arthur William Ford (1901-1974), known professionally as 'Professor' Gordon Bavister. The figures were bought in 1937 and are mostly made by the master puppet maker Arthur Quisto (1882-1960). Mr Punch was first recorded in England in 1662 by the famous diarist Samuel Pepys when he saw him as a marionette, operated in Covent Garden by the Italian puppet showman Signor Bologna. Pulchinella, as he was then called, was presented within a tent rather than in the type of booth we know today. Pepys brought his wife to see the show two weeks later and that October the same show was performed at Whitehall for the King. Mr Punch has had his cone-shaped hat for a long time. A 17th-century ballad referred to his conical hat, his amorous character, and to someone who: 'kissed like Punchinello or a sucking pig.' He has also had his characteristically squeaky voice for hundreds of years, and directions for a 17th-century play note that a character should 'speak in Punchinello's voice'. An account of a performance by Punch and the Devil in 1699 noted that their dialogue was: 'conveyed to the ears of the listening rabble through a tin squeaker, which was thought by some of 'em as a great piece of conjuration as was ever performed by Dr. Faustus'. This is a reference to the Italian 'pivetta' which contemporary Punchmen call a 'swazzle'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.526-2012 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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