String Puppet
Item number Eh145 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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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
- Made in Galle, Sri Lanka during 1950
- Collected during 1983
- Owned by Jason Schoonover before January 31, 1984
- Received from Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and Jason Schoonover (Seller) on January 31, 1984
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
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Galle, Sri Lanka
Who
- Culture
- Sinhalese
- Previous Owner
- Jason Schoonover
- Received from
- Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and Jason Schoonover (Seller)
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
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