Trunk
ca.1890
ca.1890
This wooden box was probably made especially to contain the tabletop fit-up needed to present the 'living marionette' show that was given to the museum. The donor said of thebox, its contents and its marionettes in an e-mail to the museum: 'I think my mother saw it advertised in a newspaper up north on the retirement of the original owner/performer. I seem to remember it had been used on the sea-front up north. She probably bought it in the late 1920s or early 1930s and the theatre is probably at least Edwardian.'
The act appears to have consisted of the four marionettes that represent a guardsman, a lady and two gentlemen in tweeds - possibly a father, his daughter and her two suitors. Each puppet has tapes attached to its shoulders that tied around the operator's neck so that the operator's head which poked through the black drapes became that of the marionette in front of the drapes. The limbs of the figure are worked by four metal rods, two attached to the elbows of the figure and two to its feet, held by the operator and an assistant wearing black gloves, and a hat or bonnet to signify a character.
The act appears to have originated in France and was known before the Victorian magician Dr. Lynn (1831-1899), also known as High Washington Simmons and Washington Blythe made the act popular in the 1870s when he was appearing at the London Aquarium. Dr. Lynn's act is mentioned in Hoffman's Modern Magic, 1880, when he notes: 'On a small stage a real living head, attached to a miniature body, sings, talks and acts; and it is plain to the audience that while the head is really a human one, the body is but a toy.'
The act appears to have consisted of the four marionettes that represent a guardsman, a lady and two gentlemen in tweeds - possibly a father, his daughter and her two suitors. Each puppet has tapes attached to its shoulders that tied around the operator's neck so that the operator's head which poked through the black drapes became that of the marionette in front of the drapes. The limbs of the figure are worked by four metal rods, two attached to the elbows of the figure and two to its feet, held by the operator and an assistant wearing black gloves, and a hat or bonnet to signify a character.
The act appears to have originated in France and was known before the Victorian magician Dr. Lynn (1831-1899), also known as High Washington Simmons and Washington Blythe made the act popular in the 1870s when he was appearing at the London Aquarium. Dr. Lynn's act is mentioned in Hoffman's Modern Magic, 1880, when he notes: 'On a small stage a real living head, attached to a miniature body, sings, talks and acts; and it is plain to the audience that while the head is really a human one, the body is but a toy.'
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 33 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Title | |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Black wooden trunk containing the elements of the fit-up used for a 'living marionette' show, presented by a travelling entertainer, probably at the seaside in the north of England, ca.1890. Given by Michael Andrews. Robertshawe's stamped 'Acme' roller blind used as a front cloth for the 'living marionette' show presented by a travelling entertainer, probably at the seaside in the north of England, ca.1890. Given by Michael Andrews. |
| Physical description | Black wooden trunk or box made from planks of wood painted black, with blue rope handles either side and metal fastenings to secure the lid to the front of the box. A central metal loop fixes over a fastening in the centre; a hook attached to the front of the box on the left fastens into a ring screw on the lid, while the hook on the right is in place but the ring screw is missing. There are two sheets of hand-written instructions on paper pinned to the inside of the lid relating to the fit-up and its construction. Cream roller blind with cord for raising and lowering and a printed label for 'Robertshawe's Stamped Acme Blind Roller glued to the wooden roller. The front is painted in black with the words: 'NOBE COMEDIAN & LIVING LILLIPUTIAN ENTERTAINER' which a curving shape of black ink at the top is inked over what appears to be the name: R.N.F. BEAVAN' to obliterate it. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by Michael Andrews |
| Object history | This wooden box was probably made especially to contain the tabletop fit-up needed to present the 'living marionette' show. The donor said of the box, its contents and its marionettes in an e-mail to the museum: 'I think my mother saw it advertised in a newspaper up north on the retirement of the original owner/performer. I seem to remember it had been used on the sea-front up north. She probably bought it in the late 1920s or early 1930s and the theatre is probably at least Edwardian.' This roller blind was stored in a wooden travelling box that was probably made especially to contain the tabletop fit-up needed to present the 'living marionette' show. The donor said of the box, its contents and its marionettes in an e-mail to the museum: 'I think my mother saw it advertised in a newspaper up north on the retirement of the original owner/performer. I seem to remember it had been used on the sea-front up north. She probably bought it in the late 1920s or early 1930s and the theatre is probably at least Edwardian.' |
| Summary | This wooden box was probably made especially to contain the tabletop fit-up needed to present the 'living marionette' show that was given to the museum. The donor said of thebox, its contents and its marionettes in an e-mail to the museum: 'I think my mother saw it advertised in a newspaper up north on the retirement of the original owner/performer. I seem to remember it had been used on the sea-front up north. She probably bought it in the late 1920s or early 1930s and the theatre is probably at least Edwardian.' The act appears to have consisted of the four marionettes that represent a guardsman, a lady and two gentlemen in tweeds - possibly a father, his daughter and her two suitors. Each puppet has tapes attached to its shoulders that tied around the operator's neck so that the operator's head which poked through the black drapes became that of the marionette in front of the drapes. The limbs of the figure are worked by four metal rods, two attached to the elbows of the figure and two to its feet, held by the operator and an assistant wearing black gloves, and a hat or bonnet to signify a character. The act appears to have originated in France and was known before the Victorian magician Dr. Lynn (1831-1899), also known as High Washington Simmons and Washington Blythe made the act popular in the 1870s when he was appearing at the London Aquarium. Dr. Lynn's act is mentioned in Hoffman's Modern Magic, 1880, when he notes: 'On a small stage a real living head, attached to a miniature body, sings, talks and acts; and it is plain to the audience that while the head is really a human one, the body is but a toy.' |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.216:1 to 31-2012 |
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| Record created | February 8, 2013 |
| Record URL |
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