Glove Puppet
1937 (made), 1994 (altered)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This glove puppet is Jack Ketch the Hangman, 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.
In the Punch and Judy show written by Professor Bavister, Jack Ketch the Hangman comes to hang Mr. Punch for murdering Judy and throwing his baby out of the window. Punch tricks him into putting his head in the noose and hangs him instead. Joey the clown helps Mr Punch put the Hangman in the coffin before singing 'Here we go round the Mulberry Bush' with him as the show ends. The real Jack Ketch, or John Ketch, was the hangman employed by Charles ll who died in 1686 and who was infamous for the barbarity of his executions.
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.
In the Punch and Judy show written by Professor Bavister, Jack Ketch the Hangman comes to hang Mr. Punch for murdering Judy and throwing his baby out of the window. Punch tricks him into putting his head in the noose and hangs him instead. Joey the clown helps Mr Punch put the Hangman in the coffin before singing 'Here we go round the Mulberry Bush' with him as the show ends. The real Jack Ketch, or John Ketch, was the hangman employed by Charles ll who died in 1686 and who was infamous for the barbarity of his executions.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and painted wood with sewn fabric and human hair. |
| Brief description | Glove puppet of Jack Ketch the Hangman 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 Jack Ketch the Hangman, with a black mask painted over his eyes, a carved wooden face, human hair, and wearing a black wool robe. |
| Dimensions |
|
| 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. |
| Association | |
| Literary reference | Punch and Judy |
| Summary | This glove puppet is Jack Ketch the Hangman, 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. In the Punch and Judy show written by Professor Bavister, Jack Ketch the Hangman comes to hang Mr. Punch for murdering Judy and throwing his baby out of the window. Punch tricks him into putting his head in the noose and hangs him instead. Joey the clown helps Mr Punch put the Hangman in the coffin before singing 'Here we go round the Mulberry Bush' with him as the show ends. The real Jack Ketch, or John Ketch, was the hangman employed by Charles ll who died in 1686 and who was infamous for the barbarity of his executions. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.532-2012 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 17, 2012 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
