Frank Sherman Benson Fund

Frank Sherman Benson Fund

Gift of Mrs. Michael de Havenon

Frank Sherman Benson Fund

String puppet (marioneta) of the character Monsayeed, the ruler of Calcutta (now Kolkata). Hands and face are delicately carved and very detailed. The face has large painted eyes, a sharp nose, wrinkled forehead above heavy grey brows, and black mustache and sideburns. He wears a green head wrap and scarf, as well as a long white tunic, green shirt, long burlap vest and light grey pants. A braided belt is attached around the waist. His feet are covered by light leather sandals that lace up the leg over white wrappings. Stiff guards line his wrists. Puppet is moved by a wooden control stick, with marionette strings attached to head, shoulders, hands and knees.

String puppet (marioneta) representing the character, the King of Melinde. He wears a green, blue and gold turban on his head, open at the top, and a wide gold band around his throat. His long purple tunic is edged in pink, buttons decorating the front, with a pink sash thrown over his right shoulder and belted at the waist with a rope. Part b is a wooden dagger, decoratively painted, that sits inside a small red and gold sheath attached to the belt. The puppet wears light sandals with gold fringe decoration. Puppet’s hands and face are delicately carved and very detailed. Puppet is moved by a wooden control stick, with marionette strings attached to head, shoulders, hands and knees.

String puppet (marioneta) of the character Bacchus. Face has a protruding upturned nose, thick lips, open mouth, blue-black glass balls for eyes, and blue painted brows. Ears are prominent. Cheeks, nose, ears and lips are bright orange in colour. Hair and beard are made of twisted wire. The head is attached to the body by a single string, and is controlled by a thin wooden stick located on the lower portion. The puppet’s torso is hollow with an open back, made of paper mache. The outer chest is painted purple while the inside is decoupage of black and white magazine photos of nude men and women. The arms are thick pieces of rope hidden in voluminous sleeves of red satiny fabric. Wooden hands are attached to the ends of the ropes and can be controlled by thin wooden sticks. A metal belt spans the puppet’s waist, from which hangs a full, purple vinyl skirt, closed at the bottom.

String puppet (marioneta) representing the character O Infante Don Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator, 1394-1460), King of Portugal, dressed in a black felt hat with wide brim and long trailing portion, a long black tunic and a long heavy felt coat with silver buttons, tied at the waist with a black rope. Cuffs are decorated with long lines of small black buttons, while front is closed with large dark silver buttons. Boots are short and pointed. Hands and face are delicately carved and very detailed. The face is lined with wrinkles on cheeks and forehead, a large thick nose protrudes, mouth is pink and slightly open, eyes are painted brown under grey brows. Black hair peeks out from under the hat. Puppet is moved by a wooden control stick, with marionette strings attached to head, shoulders, hands and knees.

String puppet (marioneta) of the character Vasco da Gama. He is richly dressed, with pants and tunic of brocade covered by a knee length cloak of blue velvet edged in fur and a matching hat. His boots are tall, folding over at the knee. A wide, braided belt of leather holds a sheathed wooden sword (part b) painted silver and gold. His face is bearded, and eyes are shiny silver plastic. Hands and face are delicately carved and very detailed. Puppet is moved by a wooden control stick, with marionette strings attached to head, shoulders, hands and knees.

Mask made of brown leather with a protruding nose, red tongue and black horns. Black elastic tape crosses the back of mask to hold on wearer’s head. (Also, see costume: 2956/202 b-c and bells: 2956/202 d-h.)