Marionette of a monkey, Marino the 'Blackamoor's companion, from the Gair Wilkinson Troupe, carved and painted wood, ca.1920. British.

Carved wooden marionette of a brown monkey with a paler muzzle and glass eyes, the wood of the muzzle not stained the colour of the body. The head is jointed onto the body section to allow for movement, and all four legs are jointed to the body. The front arms are jointed at the elbow only, while the back legs are jointed at the knees and feet. The movable tail section consists of a wooden section on a string, with a wooden finial piece. Stringed with 9 strings - 2 back strings; 2 thigh strings; 1 body; 2 head strings behind the ears and 2 paw strings. With the original control bar.

Given by Frances Gair Miller

NB. While the term 'blackamoor' has been used in this record, it has since fallen from usage and is now considered offensive. The term is repeated in this record in its original historical context.

When the Gair Wilkinson show performed at Queen's Gate Hall in December 1930 and January 1931, the afternoon show comprised: 2. THE MAGIC STICK. A happy play about Pimpinella and a Witch. 3. ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. Introduced by a lecture on Science 4. A DROLLERY. In which Pantaloon suffers many misadventures but ends by dancing. The evening programme comprised: 1. HARLEQUINADE. In which Harlequin shows it is good to be alive 2. PANTALOON IN LONDON TOWN. An unexpectedly lively affair 3. ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGON. Introduced by a lecture on Science 4. THE ETERNAL CLOWN or THE DEATH OF JOY A Ballet Music by W. Gair Wilkinson 5. A DROLLERY to finish.

By the 1920s Arthur Wilkinson (1882-1957), who gave marionette shows with his brother Walter Wilkinson, was so concerned that puppetry had become neglected in England that he began The Marionette Society, to produce marionette theatre throughout the country. He launched the society with a series of performances at the Poetry Bookshop in London in November 1923, using his own figures including Harlequin, Columbine, the dragon and Pantaloon. An original advertisement for the show mentions: 'an entirely new Harlequinade showing such contrivances in Scenic Art as shall set both Harlequin and Columbine dancing with delight'.

Most of these figures probably date from about 1920. When Arthur and Walter performed The Wilkinson Puppet Show at Heal's in November 1921 the reviewer noted a Harlequin, a Pantaloon, a Clown, Il Capitano, Columbine and a 'Blackamoor'. We know that most of the marionettes in this collection were in use by 1928 since a hand-coloured leaflet produced by Gair Wilkinson to publicise his show is illustrated with Harlequin on the cover and inside with Pimpinella and Pagliacco, between the Dragon (which St George fought to rescue Princess Cleodolinda), and Pantaloon, who took part in the Harlequinade.

This beautifully carved and lifelike marionette is easy to manipulate due to its excellent construction and weight. It was carved by the artist Arthur Wilkinson (1882-1957) who was inspired to make puppets in 1914 by some toy Italian puppets. He started as a professional puppeteer by touring England in a caravan with his brother Walter and performing with puppets he carved.Walter Wilkinson went on to concentrate on the revival of glove puppetry in Britain, while Arthur Wilkinson continued with marionettes.

By the 1920s Arthur Wilkinson was so concerned that puppetry had become neglected in England that he began The Marionette Society to produce marionette theatre throughout the country. He launched the society with a performances at the Poetry Bookshop in London in November 1923, using his own figures including Harlequin, Columbine, the dragon and Pantaloon. By 1928 he had carved the remarkable set of marionettes, illustrated on a flyer for his show and including this monkey and Marino, Pagliacci and Pimpinella, and Harlequin and Columbine. After Arthur Wilkinson married Lily Gair his show became known as the 'Gair Wilkinson Marionettes', and he later assumed the name Gair Wilkinson professionally.

S.120-1987