String Puppet
Item number Eh142 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
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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
- 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
- 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
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
- 0943/0001 a-c
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