Glove Puppet
ca.1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This Skeleton Ghost is one of a set of figures used in his Punch and Judy show by Will Judge (1883-1960), billed variously as 'the Norfolk Comedian' and 'Refined Comedian and Patterer'. Although he performed all over the British isles, he was best known in East Anglia and the North of England. He played Dame in pantomime and married Gertrude Orchard, who played Principal Boy. The figures were a gift from his son, along with an archive relating to Will Judge's career, although it contains no reference to him working as a Punch and Judy man.
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. Punch originally had a wife called Joan, but by the 19th century she had become Judy.
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. Punch originally had a wife called Joan, but by the 19th century she had become Judy.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved and painted wood with sewn fabric. |
| Brief description | Glove puppet of the Skeleton Ghost used by Will Judge (1883-1960), known as 'the Norfolk Comedian'. Part of a set of figures for a Punch and Judy show. Unknown maker, early 20th century. Given by Patric Judge. |
| Physical description | Glove puppet of the Skeleton Ghost with a carved wooden face painted white, with painted black eye sockets, and carved wooden hands. It wears a cream cotton hooded, long-sleeved robe gathered at the neckline and the wrists. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Patric Judge in memory of his grandfather Will Judge (1883-1960). |
| Object history | This is one of a set of Punch & Judy figures donated by the grandson of the 'Norfolk Comedian' Will Judge (1883-1960), also known as the 'Refined Comedian and Patterer'. His grandson did not know when his grandfather acquired the set, or performed with them. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Associations | |
| Literary reference | Punch and Judy |
| Summary | This Skeleton Ghost is one of a set of figures used in his Punch and Judy show by Will Judge (1883-1960), billed variously as 'the Norfolk Comedian' and 'Refined Comedian and Patterer'. Although he performed all over the British isles, he was best known in East Anglia and the North of England. He played Dame in pantomime and married Gertrude Orchard, who played Principal Boy. The figures were a gift from his son, along with an archive relating to Will Judge's career, although it contains no reference to him working as a Punch and Judy man. 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. Punch originally had a wife called Joan, but by the 19th century she had become Judy. |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.926-2013 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | April 23, 2013 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
