VENTRILOQUIST'S DOLL Nurse

Female marionette, possibly Little Red Riding Hood. Body - Made entirely of wood, by the layer method of construction. Consists of 15 pieces, cut by template, head, torso, 2 upper arms, 2 fore arms, 2 hands, hips, 2 thighs, 2 lower legs and 2 shoes. Head is carved, 14 cm long, hinged lower jaw, painted pink with vivid features, and has curly, blonde, doll's hair attached to it. It is held up by 3 strings, one on top of head, one from each ear. Head is attached to torso by a metal hook. Upper arms are attached to torso by wire so they can move in any direction, lower arms are hinged so they can only move upwards. Hands are painted pink, nails are painted red. Strings are attached to hands. Thighs are attached to hips by metal hoops so that they can move up and down, lower legs are hinged at knee. Shoes are painted silver and have high heels. Strings are attached to the knees and fixed to a separate wooden bar so that the legs can be moved independently of the main puppet. Clothes - Dress was originally white cotton with collar at neck and lace trimmings at cuffs. Red cape and red cap. The entire collection of marionettes and puppets, which includes 31 marionettes, 26 hand puppets (glove and rod), 20 puppet heads, 9 hand sticks, 3 stick dolls and a travelling stage, were used, and many were made, by Miss Frances Rogers. Miss Rogers, born on 19 Oct 1904, went to teacher's college in 1930 and joined the Education Department of WA in 1934. Between 1934 and her retirement in 1967, she taught at various country schools, took special classes for deaf and dumb children in Mosman Park and classes for mentally and physically disabled children in Leederville. She used the puppets as teaching aids for the disabled children.

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