MARIONETTE, Trick Skeleton

Typical 'trick' skeleton, 1940's style. Originally designed to dance as a whole skeleton then separate into individual pieces and dance. The backbone, chest and hips are now permanently attached. The legs and feet, and arms and hands are also now tied together. The whole skeleton is painted cream. Head - made from clay, moulded to form features. Eye sockets and nostrils painted red, eyebrows, pupils and mouth black. Neck is a piece of wood shaped into discs, all attached to the head. Body - chest is moulded from clay, with bones outlined in black. Back bone is piece of cane and three wooden balls. Hip is moulded clay. All attached. Legs in two pieces as are the arms. Large feet and hands with bones outlined in black. All appear to be moulded clay. The control (stick) is 47cm long and held horizontally. It is stamped 'MADE IN ENGLAND'. 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.

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