Shadow Puppet Item Number: Edz1346 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A shadow puppet of a male (sheng or lead male type, Emperor character) (parts a-b) with a profile face in outline. Wearing clothing that is decorated in red, yellow, blue, and black with an animal face on the chest, and at the hips, and dragons at the top of the legs, and at the wrists, and floral print on the shoulders, and on the bottom of the legs. Wire is coiled around the neck. There is an elaborate red and black headdress (part c) of a tailed animal with a fireball-like appendage. Handles are made of bamboo grass. Joined in the shoulder, elbow, waist, hips, hands, and fingers with rivets.
History Of Use
With bamboo manipulating rods, these shadow puppets come from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. They are unique because of their aesthetics and large size; their finger, arm, and shoulder joints; and their facial profiles, which often show a small overbite. The figures represent military officials, lower-rank officers, and women of status and rank. Once an enormously popular form of entertainment, they performed classic stories such as Sanguo or Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a 14th century text. These exquisite puppets were probably made in the late 1800s or early 1900s, during the last decades of the Qing dynasty (1636-1912 CE).
Narrative
In 1981 the donor wrote that she had found this group of shadow puppets in Chengdu (Sichuan, China) over 40 years earlier.
Item History
- Made in Chengdu, Sichuan, China before 1940
- Owned by Kathleen F. Spooner before December 31, 1981
- Received from Kathleen F. Spooner (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) on December 31, 1981
What
- Name
- Shadow Puppet
- Identification Number
- Edz1346 a-c
- Type of Item
- puppet
- Material
- skin, dye, metal and bamboo grass
- Overall
- height 66.0 cm, width 17.0 cm, depth 2.4 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Previous Owner
- Kathleen F. Spooner
- Received from
- Kathleen F. Spooner (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Chengdu, Sichuan, China
When
- Creation Date
- before 1940
- Ownership Date
- before December 31, 1981
- Acquisition Date
- on December 31, 1981
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0768/0008 a-c