Animated: The Collection of John M. Blundall 9
112
114
TILLER-CLOWES FAMILY TROUPE
TILLER-CLOWES FAMILY TROUPE
ENGLISH MARIONETTE OF A COW, LATE 19TH CENTURY painted wood
113 TILLER-CLOWES FAMILY TROUPE
70cm x 40cm x 5cm
ENGLISH MARIONETTE OF A DONKEY, LATE 19TH CENTURY painted wood
£200-300
ENGLISH MARIONETTE OF A BULL, LATE 19TH CENTURY painted wood 56cm x 38cm x 6cm
£200-300
69cm x 49cm x 6cm
£200-300
115 TILLER-CLOWES FAMILY TROUPE ENGLISH MARIONETTE OF AN ELEGANT GENTLEMAN, LATE 19TH CENTURY painted wood and fabric 73cm x 20cm x 10cm
£200-300
116 TILLER-CLOWES FAMILY TROUPE ENGLISH MARIONETTE OF A SAILOR FIDDLER, LATE 19TH CENTURY painted wood and fabric 70cm x 18cm x 9cm Note: This marionette of a one-eyed, peg-legged sailor fiddler was known as Tommy One-Leg. It was specially made for the popular comic music hall song ‘How Cruel Were My Parients’ (sic)’. It was sung by Tommy’s wife, relating the fate of her husband who lost his eye and leg when he was press-ganged into the navy, and how he was reduced to busking in the streets with her. [V&A]
£200-300
117 TILLER-CLOWES FAMILY TROUPE THREE ENGLISH TRICK MARIONETTES, LATE 19TH CENTURY painted wood and fabric, comprising STRETCHING AND SHRINKING CLOWN, unclothed except for neck ruff, white face and red mohican, 68cm x 14cm x 11cm; MOTHER SHIPTON, 94cm x 37cm x 10cm (when assembled) and SCARAMOUCHE, 99cm x 25cm x 25cm (3) Note: Mother Shipton featured as a character in 18th-century plays, and in 1712 the puppeteer Martin Powell advertised the play ‘Mother Shipton and the Downfall of Cardinal Wolsey’. The same play was mentioned by the American journalist James Ralph in 1728, writing about the English puppet theatre. From early Tudor times, Mother Shipton was considered a prophetess, both in her local Yorkshire and around the country. Her many prophesies are said to have included the death of Wolsey, the Civil Wars and the Great Fire of London. She appears in illustrations as an ugly old lady with a hooked nose and an upturned chin. Pepys referred to Mother Shipton, with her appearing as a character in 17th-century plays and pantomime as well as in the puppet theatre where she was usually a trick puppet who smoked a pipe. [V&A]
£200-300