Not currently on display at the V&A

Hansel

Marionette
1976 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Marionette, 'Hansel' of the children's story 'Hansel and Gretel'. Hollow cast composition (or plastic) head, wooden limbs and body and painted facial features. Hansel has a painted pink head, arms and upper legs, pink plastic hands, yellow nylon wig, green painted lower legs and black painted feet. The puppet has metal jointing at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees and ankles. He is dressed in a blue and white shirt, pale green trousers, red felt braces.

The control consists of two wooden bars pinned together at the centre so that they can be opened to form a cross. The heads are controlled by two strings, one to each side; the hands by two red strings one to each hand, the legs by two blue strings one to each knee. There is also a single yellow string to the centre back. There are appropriately coloured washers over the string hooks on the control. These prevent the strings coming off but also allow their removal in case they got tangled.

The puppet is housed in a yellow and white cardboard box which has instructions for removing and replacing the puppet and for making it walk The outer window sleeve is also of yellow card and decorated with drawings of various characters.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHansel (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Wood, plastic, metal and string
Brief description
Painted wooden Marionette puppet of Hansel, from Grimms' 'Hansel and Gretel', made by Pelham Puppets Ltd. in 1976
Physical description
Marionette, 'Hansel' of the children's story 'Hansel and Gretel'. Hollow cast composition (or plastic) head, wooden limbs and body and painted facial features. Hansel has a painted pink head, arms and upper legs, pink plastic hands, yellow nylon wig, green painted lower legs and black painted feet. The puppet has metal jointing at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees and ankles. He is dressed in a blue and white shirt, pale green trousers, red felt braces.

The control consists of two wooden bars pinned together at the centre so that they can be opened to form a cross. The heads are controlled by two strings, one to each side; the hands by two red strings one to each hand, the legs by two blue strings one to each knee. There is also a single yellow string to the centre back. There are appropriately coloured washers over the string hooks on the control. These prevent the strings coming off but also allow their removal in case they got tangled.

The puppet is housed in a yellow and white cardboard box which has instructions for removing and replacing the puppet and for making it walk The outer window sleeve is also of yellow card and decorated with drawings of various characters.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
bar of control is stamped: MADE IN ENGLAND PELHAM PUPPET
Gallery label
Hansel, Gretel and Witch marionettes, 1976 These are characters from a Brothers Grimm fairytale. The witch wanted to cook and eat the children, but she ended up in the oven instead! Made by Pelham Puppets in England.
Credit line
Given by the manufacturer
Object history
Given by Pelham Puppets Ltd, England 1976
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceJacob Ludwig Carl Grimm and Wilhelm Carl Grimm, <font -u>Grimm’s Fairy Tales</font -u>
Associated objects
Other number
SL1
Collection
Accession number
MISC.3:1-1977

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Record createdFebruary 24, 2004
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