Water puppet (mua roi nuoc) of a fairy character. Puppet carved from wood, with a white face, carved facial features emphasized with paint, a crown of painted petals in gold, red and green, and long gold and red earrings. She wears a full length robe with decorated shoulders and layered skirts, with a wooden bow at front. The puppet’s arms are wood covered with wide sleeves of white polyester edged with coloured sequins. They are lifted by pulling on a thin plastic tube that emerges from the base.

Water puppet (mua roi nuoc) of a princess character. Puppet carved from wood, with a white face, carved facial features emphasized with paint, a crown of painted petals in gold, red and green, and long gold and red earrings. She wears a full length robe with decorated shoulders and an elaborate belt with leaf panels at each side and a long layered panel at front. The puppet’s arms are wood covered with long, wide sleeves of blue polyester. Thin plastic tube emerges from the base, likely used to lift the arms at one time.

Water puppet (mua roi nuoc) of a princess character. Puppet consists of the body (part a) and separated head (part b). Carved from wood, the puppet has a white face, carved facial features emphasized with paint, a crown of painted petals in gold with a green forehead ring, and long gold and red earrings. She wears a full length robe with decorated shoulders and chest, tiered colourful skirts and a long layered panel and bow at front. The puppet’s arms and hands are wood, covered with long sleeves of blue polyester. Arms are lifted by pulling on a thin plastic tube that emerges from the base.

Hand woven cotton apron. Garment is constructed in a tight weave, light green in colour, gathered at the waist band which extends into ties. Embroidery is in horizontal strips, in three different heights, in white, pink and metallic (plastic) silver thread.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

Sixteen quartz beads (currently strung on plastic fishing line).

Embroidered boy's shirt. Long-sleeved, collared shirt is made of mashru cloth, a mix of cotton and silk, coloured in vertical stripes of red, yellow, green and black with sets of small white dots regularly scattered across the red. Chest and back are heavily embroidered with flowers, mango tree designs, and 'v' shaped animal horns. Small mirrors are inset on chest, back and around cuffs, surrounded by sickle stitching. A decorative gold metal button fastens the shirt at the collar, with a plastic button at waist. Two ties on the interior also help hold the garment closed.