Lot 732: A Vintage Marlborough Composition and Wood Hansel Marionette Puppet
A vintage Marlborough composition and wood Hansel marionette puppet, complete with its original illustrated card box. The puppet features a moulded composition head with painted facial features, red lips, and blonde fuzzy hair. It is dressed in its original fabric costume comprising a blue and white chequered shirt, a red waistcoat with yellow embroidered details, and green trousers. The hands are formed from composition material, while the lower legs and feet are painted wood. The puppet is attached to a natural wood crossbar controller with a variety of green, red, and black strings. The yellow cardboard box features printed white block lettering on a black ground reading MARLBOROUGH, followed by PUPPETS FOR CHILDREN. A portion of the text to the left is partially obscured, reading ILTS, likely referring to the town of Marlborough in Wiltshire. A white adhesive auction sticker is present reading Lot 732.
Condition report:
The composition head shows significant all-over surface crazing and fine cracking to the pink paint finish (photo 1). Similar fine crazing and paint loss are visible on the composition hands (photo 2). The blonde fuzzy hair is somewhat matted and dusty. The fabric clothing is intact but shows light surface dust and age-related wear. The wooden components and paintwork on the feet remain in good order. The strings are present and attached but appear tangled (photo 1). The original cardboard box shows signs of wear, including creasing, edge rubbing, and minor tearing to the end flaps (photo 1).
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