Rare 1800s Hand Carved Wooden Burmese Marionette Puppet

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Rare 1800s Hand Carved Wooden Burmese Marionette Puppet

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Sold Date: 08/15/2008
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art

This is a great find: Rare Large Antique 1800s Hand Carved Wooden Burmese Marionette Puppet

We cleaned out an estate of a man who traveled for a local newspaper in 1970s and 1980s We will be selling items he collected on his trips. This is a carved wooden Marionette from Burma. He measures 26 1/2" tall and has carved wooden hands, feet and head (head has been carved out has mouth that can move),neck, shoulders, top arm bottom arm, back, but, hips uper leg and lower leg. GREAT craftmanship he is also hand painted , He has painted porcelain eyes. Hands are jointed made so the fingers can bend in. All strings are that work the marionette but need to be detangled. Outfit have faded a little but are original. This is a real keeper. Would make a great addition to your collection. This is a true Museum piece. We were told this dated from mid 1800s to early 1900s. Paint still good has horse hair for hair

In Burma puppet plays have been performed since at least the 1400s. In the 1700s, the royal court began formally to sponsor and regulate the puppet theatre. It quickly grew in prestige and popularity. At the height of its popularity between 1820 and 1885, the puppet theatre in Burma was considered superior to the live theatre, such was the degree of skill and expertise exhibited by the puppeteers. Some puppets became famous throughout the land and were instantly recognised and much loved by the people.

The puppets are marionettes, manipulated through strings controlled from above. The strings, controls and hands of the puppeteers are visible during parts of the performance;on show is the incredible dexterity of the puppeteers. A great marionette performance could allow spectators to enter the world of the puppets and to forget that the little figures were not in fact human. T are anecdotes told about the hazards facing the puppeteers of unpopular puppets, as the audience could unleash their fury on the puppeteers.

A Burmese puppet troupe includes puppet handlers, vocalists and musicians. Plays are based on Buddhist fables, historical legends and folktales, among other stories. The figures range in height from about 30cm to 1m. Nearly all are stock figures, puppets may be reused in different roles, but characteristics are kept for each play. Some of these puppet types have been standard for centuries, especially those developed from Buddhist fables, which probably formed the puppeteer's first repertoire.

Though no longer as popular today, the tradition is still maintained by a small number of performing troupes. The courtly way of life portrayed in puppet theatre during its heyday is now long gone, but it is continued in today's puppets and the stories they perform.

We are selling with NO RESERVE price

Please ask questions! I do my best to describe items, but I am not an expert in all areas. All items are sold as is as found. Refunds are made only if t is a major error in the item description. Refunds are made for the original bid price only. Shipping is not included. For a refund to be made, the item must be returned in the same condition as when it was shipped. Returns must be made within 7 days of receipt of item. Buyer responsible for INSURANCE. We don't cover items damaged or lost by mail service.

We will combine shipping for multiple purchases when we can. Other Countries please e-mail for shipping costs 5 1/2 lbs