Not on display

Marionette

1962-1970 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Pelham Puppets Ltd., was a hugely popular British toy making company set up in 1947 by Bob Pelham in Malborough, Wiltshire. From 1947 to the closure of the business in 1993 they made thousands of different characters and ranges of puppets for children including hand and marionette varieties. Pelham puppets used simple construction methods, materials and influences that reflected the decades in which they were made. New Pelham puppets are now being manufactured again by David Leech in Devon.

Pelham puppets often took influence from popular fairy tales or television characters for their puppets. Perky the Pig is a toy version of one half of famous duo, Pinky and Perky. The two original puppet pigs had their own hugely popular television show from the late 1950s and are still a popular icon from the days of early children's television.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Box
  • Box
  • Marionettes
Materials and techniques
carved and painted wood
Brief description
Marionette, carved and painted wood, with box, 'Perky' the pig, character originally created by John and Vlasta Dalibor, made by Pelham Puppets Ltd, Malborough, Wiltshire, England, 1962-1970.
Physical description
Painted and machine carved wooden articulated body of a pig. Moving joints are attached using metal hook screws. Multi-coloured strings are attached to the feet, hands ears and back of the pig puppet and attached to a wooden crosse-shaped operator. Pig character is dressed in blue trousers and a red and white gingham shirt.
Dimensions
  • Marionette height: 23cm
  • Extended with pig and string height: 60cm
Summary
Pelham Puppets Ltd., was a hugely popular British toy making company set up in 1947 by Bob Pelham in Malborough, Wiltshire. From 1947 to the closure of the business in 1993 they made thousands of different characters and ranges of puppets for children including hand and marionette varieties. Pelham puppets used simple construction methods, materials and influences that reflected the decades in which they were made. New Pelham puppets are now being manufactured again by David Leech in Devon.

Pelham puppets often took influence from popular fairy tales or television characters for their puppets. Perky the Pig is a toy version of one half of famous duo, Pinky and Perky. The two original puppet pigs had their own hugely popular television show from the late 1950s and are still a popular icon from the days of early children's television.
Collection
Accession number
B.625:1 to 3-2010

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Record createdJune 21, 2011
Record URL
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