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The Wicked witch

Marionette
1976 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Marionette, the witch from the children's story 'Hansel and Gretel'. Hollow cast composition (or plastic) head, wooden limbs and body and painted facial features. The witch has a painted pink head and lower arms with black spots and lines on her face, white nylon hair strands, pink plastic hands and legs, black painted feet. Dressed in a black dress and felt hat, red spotted scarf and apron, carrying a wood and raffia broom. The puppet has an articulated mouth.

The control consists of two wooden bars pinned together at the centre so that they can be opened to form a cross. The heads are controlled by two strings, one to each side; the hands by two red strings one to each hand, the legs by two blue strings one to each knee. There is also a single yellow string to the centre back. There are appropriately coloured washers over the string hooks on the control. These prevent the strings coming off but also allow their removal in case they got tangled.

The puppet is housed in a yellow and white cardboard box which has instructions for removing and replacing the puppet and for making it walk The outer window sleeve is also of yellow card and decorated with drawings of various characters.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Wicked witch (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Wood, plastic, metal and string
Brief description
Painted wooden Marionette puppet of the witch, from Grimms' 'Hansel and Gretel', made by Pelham Puppets Ltd. in 1976
Physical description
Marionette, the witch from the children's story 'Hansel and Gretel'. Hollow cast composition (or plastic) head, wooden limbs and body and painted facial features. The witch has a painted pink head and lower arms with black spots and lines on her face, white nylon hair strands, pink plastic hands and legs, black painted feet. Dressed in a black dress and felt hat, red spotted scarf and apron, carrying a wood and raffia broom. The puppet has an articulated mouth.

The control consists of two wooden bars pinned together at the centre so that they can be opened to form a cross. The heads are controlled by two strings, one to each side; the hands by two red strings one to each hand, the legs by two blue strings one to each knee. There is also a single yellow string to the centre back. There are appropriately coloured washers over the string hooks on the control. These prevent the strings coming off but also allow their removal in case they got tangled.

The puppet is housed in a yellow and white cardboard box which has instructions for removing and replacing the puppet and for making it walk The outer window sleeve is also of yellow card and decorated with drawings of various characters.
Dimensions
  • Height: 30.5cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
bar of control is stamped: MADE IN ENGLAND PELHAM PUPPET
Credit line
Given by the manufacturer
Subjects depicted
Literary referenceJacob Ludwig Carl Grimm and Wilhelm Carl Grimm, <font -u>Grimm’s Fairy Tales</font -u>
Associated objects
Other number
SM2
Collection
Accession number
MISC.3:3-1977

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Record createdMarch 18, 2004
Record URL
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