Shadow Puppet Item Number: 3338/7 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Shadow puppet head (male protagonist character; Yang saga). Flat head made from semi-translucent cut, punched and painted hide. The face is cutout and outlined in black, with curved eyebrows and a small angled red lip. She wears an ornate headdress with a section of fabric extending down from a dragon(?)'s mouth. A small three-pronged spear extends from the crown, and a small phoenix(?) sits on top. Large red pompoms and green pompoms adorn the top, and two large red tassels extend down on either side of the face. A long neck acts as a tab to insert into the collar of a body.
History Of Use
The Chinese shadow figure body 3338/1 (pt a) is designed for interchangeable heads (3338/2-7). Each head represents one of the five common archetypes of the Yang saga: female protagonist, male protagonist, warrior (painted face), bearded man, and clown. This example is of the male protagonist.
Specific Techniques
The cowhide is scraped extremely thin, which together with their jointed limbs, makes these puppets highly flexible when they perform high kicks, jumps, and flips. When performing, their distinctive designs and vibrant colours are visible on the glowing screen, enhancing the magical effects of the characters in motion.
Item History
What
- Name
- Shadow Puppet
- Identification Number
- 3338/7
- Type of Item
- puppet
- Material
- cow skin, watercolour paint and lacquer
- Overall
- height 27.0 cm, width 19.5 cm, depth 0.2 cm
Who
- Culture
- Chinese
- Creator
- Lu Family (Maker)
- Previous Owner
- Lu Family
- Received from
- Lu Family (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Exhibitions Budget (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Tangshan, Hebei, China
When
- Creation Date
- during 2018
- Ownership Date
- before December 21, 2018
- Acquisition Date
- on December 21, 2018
Other
- Condition
- excellent
- Accession Number
- 3338/0007