Swazzle
1937-1974 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This swazzle 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 swazzle is the small metal reed instrument which is held between the tongue and the roof of the Professor's mouth to make Mr. Punch's traditional voice. Because it has to be moved around to switch between Punch's voice and that of other characters, the Professor is in danger of swallowing it, but it is said that no performer can cosider himnself a Professor until he has swallowed two.
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 swazzle is the small metal reed instrument which is held between the tongue and the roof of the Professor's mouth to make Mr. Punch's traditional voice. Because it has to be moved around to switch between Punch's voice and that of other characters, the Professor is in danger of swallowing it, but it is said that no performer can cosider himnself a Professor until he has swallowed two.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Metal |
| Brief description | Swazzle 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 | Metal swazzle wrapped round with a length of white cotton tape |
| 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 swazzle is one of two that were 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 swazzle 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 swazzle is the small metal reed instrument which is held between the tongue and the roof of the Professor's mouth to make Mr. Punch's traditional voice. Because it has to be moved around to switch between Punch's voice and that of other characters, the Professor is in danger of swallowing it, but it is said that no performer can cosider himnself a Professor until he has swallowed two. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.550-2012 |
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| Record created | July 19, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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