Marionette
1870s-1890s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is one of 35 marionettes known as of the Tiller-Clowes troupe, one of the last remaining Victorian marionette troupes in England. Marionette shows were a popular form of entertainment for adults in the 19th century. Many troupes were family concerns which travelled round the country long before the advent of film or television, presenting shortened versions of London's latest popular entertainment including melodramas, dramas, pantomimes, minstrel shows and music hall. In the 18th and early 19th centuries their theatres were relatively makeshift, but after about 1860 many became considerably 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 a policeman, probably wearing his original uniform with leather belt, and two 'Acme Thunderer' whistles. His helmet has been carved with his head, but the leather brim was added later. His left hand is carved closed to hold props, such as a truncheon. Several melodramas and pantomimes call for the police to apprehend the villain or take part in the Harlequinade chase, so most marionette companies would have featured at least one policeman.
The figures were carved, painted, dressed and performed by members of the company. This is a policeman, probably wearing his original uniform with leather belt, and two 'Acme Thunderer' whistles. His helmet has been carved with his head, but the leather brim was added later. His left hand is carved closed to hold props, such as a truncheon. Several melodramas and pantomimes call for the police to apprehend the villain or take part in the Harlequinade chase, so most marionette companies would have featured at least one policeman.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved wood with painted decoration; sewn cotton stuffed body with cotton, wool, knitted and leather costume with metal whistles |
| Brief description | Carved wooden marionette from the Tiller troupe. Stock character representing a Policeman. Made by the Tiller family circa 1870 to 1890. |
| Physical description | Carved wooden marionette; a policeman with strongly-carved sideburns, his head carved with helmet, but with a leather brim added. Wearing a rough wool uniform, possibly original, comprising blue serge jacket with buttons, and trousers in a similar fabric. He wears stockings and has two Acme whistles slung around his neck, possibly later additions. His eyes have painted black pupils with light flecks in the upper right corners (to simulate looking-up); red dots in the inner eyes and slight painting of eyelashes. His left hand is closed to 'hold' props. Wooden disk yoke and pelvis, hollow for the neck joint . There are leather loops attaching the legs to the pelvis. The torso is stuffed but flexible. Two control bars; bar one with leg strings, with traces of additional notches, so possibly not originally used with this figure. |
| Dimensions |
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| 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 and puppet historian, 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. This marionette appeared in The Victorian Puppet Music Hall Show, a performance on the 28th April 2019 as part of the V&A Performance Festival. The puppeteers were Ronnie Le Drew, Susan Dacre, Keith Frederick, Siân Kidd, and Vicki Holden. Music was played by Jake Rodrigues, and the performance was directed by Rachel Warr. |
| Production | It is impossible to identify the precise maker of this marionette since the company made, altered and used figures throughout its career. It is possible, however, to distinguish distinct types, and therefore groups, made by different makers, due to the type of carving. The carver of this object has been distinguished as Maker B because of its standard-sized head. |
| Summary | This is one of 35 marionettes known as of the Tiller-Clowes troupe, one of the last remaining Victorian marionette troupes in England. Marionette shows were a popular form of entertainment for adults in the 19th century. Many troupes were family concerns which travelled round the country long before the advent of film or television, presenting shortened versions of London's latest popular entertainment including melodramas, dramas, pantomimes, minstrel shows and music hall. In the 18th and early 19th centuries their theatres were relatively makeshift, but after about 1860 many became considerably 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 a policeman, probably wearing his original uniform with leather belt, and two 'Acme Thunderer' whistles. His helmet has been carved with his head, but the leather brim was added later. His left hand is carved closed to hold props, such as a truncheon. Several melodramas and pantomimes call for the police to apprehend the villain or take part in the Harlequinade chase, so most marionette companies would have featured at least one policeman. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.295-1999 |
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| Record created | January 9, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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