Stage Property
1937 (made), 1994 (altered)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This coffin was 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 were made by the master puppet maker Arthur Quisto (1882-1960), except the two boxers and the ghost, whose maker is not known.
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 coffin is used in Gordon Bavister's Punch and Judy show for the Hangman, after Mr. Punch has hanged him. Joey brings it on and since it is too short there is 'business' trying to fit him in. After doubling him up in the coffin, Punch and Joey march around the stage carrying the singing: 'Here we go round the Mulberry bush' before throwing the coffin offstage and saying goodbye.
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 coffin is used in Gordon Bavister's Punch and Judy show for the Hangman, after Mr. Punch has hanged him. Joey brings it on and since it is too short there is 'business' trying to fit him in. After doubling him up in the coffin, Punch and Joey march around the stage carrying the singing: 'Here we go round the Mulberry bush' before throwing the coffin offstage and saying goodbye.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted plywood |
| Brief description | Plywood coffin, without lid, the exterior painted black. Used for his Punch and Judy show from 1937 onwards by Arthur William Ford (1901-1974) known as Professor Gordon Bavister who scripted and operated a Punch and Judy show. Unknown maker. |
| Physical description | Plywood coffin without lid, the exterior painted black. |
| 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 part of the Punch and Judy show which was given with 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 coffin was 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 were made by the master puppet maker Arthur Quisto (1882-1960), except the two boxers and the ghost, whose maker is not known. 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 coffin is used in Gordon Bavister's Punch and Judy show for the Hangman, after Mr. Punch has hanged him. Joey brings it on and since it is too short there is 'business' trying to fit him in. After doubling him up in the coffin, Punch and Joey march around the stage carrying the singing: 'Here we go round the Mulberry bush' before throwing the coffin offstage and saying goodbye. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.546-2012 |
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| Record created | July 19, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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