Puppet - Wood

Painted wooden string puppet — Bearer of miniature glassware, red velvet costume
France, late 19th century.

Characterful puppet representing a bearer of glassware, whose basket and hood evoke the world of itinerant merchants. Its hand-painted face features a long nose, finely drawn features, and dark hair, under a red velvet headdress worn to the side.

The costume pairs a deep red velvet tunic, puffed sleeves in gold-patterned fabric, dark breeches, and brown stockings. The feet are shod in black. A tall wicker basket accompanies the figure; the character also holds a handle-knobbed basket containing transparent miniature glassware, including a small pitcher and narrow-neck containers.

The combination of the painted sculpture, textiles, and glass and wicker accessories gives this piece particular interest for a collection dedicated to puppets, miniatures, and popular crafts.

Construction combines hand-painted wooden elements with flexible textile parts; threads connected to a wooden control.
The entire ensemble is old and original: puppet, costume, accessories, thread and control.
Dimensions of the figure: approximately 45 cm high, excluding threads and control, 25 cm wide and 15 cm deep. Weight: 2 kg.

Excellent old condition, with an authentic patina that testifies to time and history. The shades of painted wood and textiles contribute to the character of this collectible piece. Full-view and close-up photographs allow precise assessment of its condition.

String marionettes belong to the tradition of the theatre of animated figures. Manipulated from above, they are suspended by threads gathered on a wooden control, called a control or cross. The puppeteer operates this assembly to give the character its attitudes and movements. Used by artists and companies, but also in amateur and family theatres, they bring to life stories, comic scenes, and musical or dance numbers. Characters representing trades and musicians evoke a readily recognizable popular world through costume and accessories. These objects combine sculpture, painting, textile confection, and miniature craftsmanship—qualities valued in collections devoted to old theatre and toys.

Lot comprising a puppet, its wooden control, its threads, and the accessories shown with it in the original photographs.

Photographic presentation: the background of the first image has been adjusted with AI assistance, without altering the puppet, its threads or its accessories. The next four close-up views present a cleaned background. The five original, unretouched photographs are then shown in the gallery to document the object and its condition. The background decorative accessories are not included in the lot.