Puppet
1937 (made), 1994 (altered)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This baby 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.
The baby is small enough to be held and thrown by Punch and Judy, and Punch's careless treatment of the baby is traditionally the starting point of the show. In Professor Bavister's version, Judy asks Punch to look after the baby while she is cooking sausages for their supper. Punch throws him out of the window when he won't stop crying, with the traditional Mr. Punch remark: 'That's the way to do it, boys and girls...'
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.
The baby is small enough to be held and thrown by Punch and Judy, and Punch's careless treatment of the baby is traditionally the starting point of the show. In Professor Bavister's version, Judy asks Punch to look after the baby while she is cooking sausages for their supper. Punch throws him out of the window when he won't stop crying, with the traditional Mr. Punch remark: 'That's the way to do it, boys and girls...'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and painted wood with sewn fabric. |
| Brief description | Puppet of Punch and Judy's baby boy used by 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 | Puppet of a baby with a painted, carved wooden face with painted eyes, wearing a white cotton gown and bonnet. It is not a glove puppet as such since it is held, and thrown, by Punch and Judy. |
| 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 the 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 in 1937by his father and were made by Arthur Quisto, except the Boxers and the Ghost, which were added later. The puppet booth used by Professor Bavister is also part of this gift, and is complete with its blue velvet curtains, a painted backdrop, the facade of Punch's house, other properties and two swazzles. |
| Association | |
| Literary reference | Punch and Judy |
| Summary | This baby 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. The baby is small enough to be held and thrown by Punch and Judy, and Punch's careless treatment of the baby is traditionally the starting point of the show. In Professor Bavister's version, Judy asks Punch to look after the baby while she is cooking sausages for their supper. Punch throws him out of the window when he won't stop crying, with the traditional Mr. Punch remark: 'That's the way to do it, boys and girls...' |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.528-2012 |
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| Record created | May 16, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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