String Puppet Item Number: Eh145 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Three-dimensional male humanoid puppet (Beggar with elephantiasis character): head (part b) fits into body with skirt (part a). The body has jointed arms and legs, and a movable chin. Both the head and the body are painted brown with light brown plant fibre used for hair and a beard. The figure has an off-white and pink floral print bandanna wrapped around his head, a purple scarf around its neck, and a hyper-enlarged left leg and foot. The figure has been made to look emaciated.

History Of Use

Lifelike in appearance, the striking rukada (string puppets) of Sri Lanka perform stories about ritual practices and everyday life. There is no scripted play, the puppeteers improvise in their storytelling. The characters, in dress, gesture, and action, express social hierarchies and gender roles: the king and the prince; the politician and the village headman; the policeman and the servant boy; and a family of farmers (Farmer, son, wife, daughter). There are also character archetypes such as the sanni (disease) demon dancer, emaciated beggar with elephantiasis, and jesters in colourful costumes who comically announce the beginning and end of the show (from Shadows, Strings & Other Things, 2019).

Item History

What

Name
String Puppet
Identification Number
Eh145 a-b
Type of Item
puppet
Material
wood, cotton fibre ? and paint
Overall
height 108.0 cm, width 30.0 cm, depth 21.0 cm

Who

Culture
Sinhalese
Previous Owner
Jason Schoonover
Received from
Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and Jason Schoonover (Seller)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Galle, Sri Lanka

When

Creation Date
during 1950
Collection Date
during 1983
Ownership Date
before January 31, 1984
Acquisition Date
on January 31, 1984

Other

Condition
fair
Accession Number
0943/0004