String Puppet Item Number: Eh142 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Three-dimensional male humanoid puppet (king character): head with paper crown (part b) fits into body clothed in a skirt and shirt (part a), and necklace (part c) fits around neck. The body has jointed arms and legs. Gauzy material with metallic embroidery drapes from shoulders. The figure is clothed in a semi-transparent, multicoloured floral patterned skirt, and a red and gold shirt. His hair is blue dyed plant fibre, knotted at the top of his head, and his moustache is the same material dyed purple-blue. The figure's right hand is clasped, and his left hand has the index and middle finger extended, with the rest folded.

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. There are also character archetypes such as the sanmi (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
Eh142 a-c
Type of Item
puppet
Material
wood, synthetic fibre and paint
Overall
height 114.5 cm, width 33.5 cm, depth 18.5 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
0943/0001 a-c