PUPPET, Multi-controlled, Three Soldiers

Handmade. Multi-control of rod operated flat. Consists of three soldiers cut out of plywood and seen from the side. They are attached by the left leg to a long thin piece of pine. (40cm long by 2cm wide and 1/2 cm thick. Called base board.) A bolt through the hip of each puppet leads to a wooden spacer and then the right leg. The right legs are also attached to a base board which has a control rod attached to the right end pointing downwards. There is a hole in the left foot of each soldier through which a string may have been attached. The flat is held against the stage floor so you see three soldiers in a line, each viewed from the side. When the time comes for them to move, the control rod is moved along and backwards and forwards under the stage with the string possibly holding the other legs steady. All clothes and features are painted on the puppets. They have tall black hats with a white plume at the side, and a yellow band around the base and chin. Cheeks, mouth and eyes are painted, and one puppet has brown hair, and one black. They have red tunic tops, with yellow belt and epaulettes, and white collar. The trousers are flared, and blue with a red stripe down the side. Shoes are black. The base boards are painted green. The neck is reinforced with a small piece of plywood. Behind parts of the puppets green foam is attached. It is not clear how or why this was done. 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 classed 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.

Department: 

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data