Harlequin
Marionette
1870-1900 (made)
1870-1900 (made)
| Artist/Maker |
This is one of 35 marionettes from the Tiller-Clowes troupe, one of the last Victorian marionette troupes in England. Marionette shows were a popular form of entertainment for adults in the 19th century, many of them family concerns which travelled around the country long before the advent of film and television, presenting shortened versions of London's latest popular entertainment from melodramas and pantomimes to minstrel shows and music hall. In the 18th and early 19th centuries their theatres were relatively makeshift, but after about 1860 many became quite elaborate, with walls constructed from wooden shutters, seating made from tiered planks of wood, and canvas roofs.
The figures were carved, painted, dressed and performed by members of the company. This is Harlequin, the clever servant from the Italian knockabout comedy called 'Commedia dell'Arte'. He was a familiar character in 19th century British pantomime, where he caused fun and havoc in the harlequinade, which concluded with him marrying Columbine against the wishes of her father. Harlequin became an indispensable member of any marionette troupe along with Columbine, Clown and Pantalone.
The figures were carved, painted, dressed and performed by members of the company. This is Harlequin, the clever servant from the Italian knockabout comedy called 'Commedia dell'Arte'. He was a familiar character in 19th century British pantomime, where he caused fun and havoc in the harlequinade, which concluded with him marrying Columbine against the wishes of her father. Harlequin became an indispensable member of any marionette troupe along with Columbine, Clown and Pantalone.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Harlequin (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved wood with painted decoration; sewn cotton stuffed body with cotton, silk and sequin appliqué costume, with leather belt |
| Brief description | Carved wooden marionette of a Harlequin from the Tiller troupe, a figure used in pantomime. Made by the Tiller family, circa 1870 to 1890. |
| Physical description | Wooden marionette of a Harlequin, dressed in a red, green and gold costume with glass pailettes along all seams, with ornamental convex discs on the belt and centre front. The head is carved with integral hair, the eyes are flecked with white paint to highlight the pupils, and the characteristic Harlequin mask is painted over the face and hair, indicating that this figure was not originally intended as Harlequin. His face and hands are painted an ivory colour over a pink base - possibly the earlier colour. The hands are open. The body is constructed with a wooden shoulder yoke with hollows for the head and pelvis, and rigid stuffing. The knee joint has a tongue on the lower leg fitting into the hollow in the upper leg. There is a staple from the calf to the boot for the ankle joint. Two-bar controls. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Unique |
| Object history | This marionette along with the rest of the troupe and three of their original backcloths had been stored in a blacksmith's shop in Lincolnshire for over thirty years, but after cleaning and re-stringing, most of the marionettes were restored by Gerald Morice and George Speaight who purchased them in 1945. They began working on recreating some of the puppets' original repertoire. Since the original cloths were too fragile for performance, new backdrops were painted, and in August 1951 as part of The Festival of Britain celebrations, the marionettes took to the stage again as The Old Time Marionettes, at the Riverside Theatre, Festival Gardens. Battersea Park. In the 1980s George Speaight lent the troupe to puppeteers in Germany, but in the late 1990s he sold them to John Phillips, an expert puppet carver, manipulator an puppet historian, who died soon after acquiring them and whose widow sold them to the Museum after his death in 1998. |
| Historical context | This marionette appeared in Tricks with Strings, a performance on the 29th April 2018 as part of the V&A Performance Festival. The puppeteers included Ronnie Le Drew, Susan Dacre, Keith Frederick, Siân Kidd, and Eti Meacock. The performance was directed by Rachel Warr. |
| Summary | This is one of 35 marionettes from the Tiller-Clowes troupe, one of the last Victorian marionette troupes in England. Marionette shows were a popular form of entertainment for adults in the 19th century, many of them family concerns which travelled around the country long before the advent of film and television, presenting shortened versions of London's latest popular entertainment from melodramas and pantomimes to minstrel shows and music hall. In the 18th and early 19th centuries their theatres were relatively makeshift, but after about 1860 many became quite elaborate, with walls constructed from wooden shutters, seating made from tiered planks of wood, and canvas roofs. The figures were carved, painted, dressed and performed by members of the company. This is Harlequin, the clever servant from the Italian knockabout comedy called 'Commedia dell'Arte'. He was a familiar character in 19th century British pantomime, where he caused fun and havoc in the harlequinade, which concluded with him marrying Columbine against the wishes of her father. Harlequin became an indispensable member of any marionette troupe along with Columbine, Clown and Pantalone. |
| Associated object | S.1121-2010 (Object) |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Fantasy in Action' catalogue, which states that this was made ca.1890. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.313-1999 |
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| Record created | April 25, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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